NBA Chat With Derek Page 3/23/13

1. Giovanni

   Your Predictions! Will the Cleveland Cavaliers get the Lakers Draft pick this year or will they be stuck w/Miamis pick?
   On HOOPSWORLD’s, 2013 Full NBA Mock Draft as of 3/10/13, Cavs take Nerlens Noel at pick 5 and if the Lakers do make the playoffs HOOPSWORLD has that pick falling to 15 which leaves Alex Poythress for the pickin’
   Do you think if the Cavs pick a big like Nerlens Noel with the first pick, is Alex Poythress a good pick w/Lakers pick?

   • Derek Page

     Welcome once again NBA fans to my weekly chat. Great to have all of you here and plenty of questions to get to so let’s get this thing rolling.

     The safe bet says the Lakers hold on to the eighth seed (I detail the current race for eighth here) so most likely LA will be giving up their pick to the Cavs this season. At fifth overall, I think Noel is a safe pick there and Poythress would be a nice pick up at 15 but a lot can happen between now and the NBA Draft Combine.

2. Derek Page

   Hi, how are you doing today?

   Who do you consider the most toxic player in the league?

   How much will demarcus cousins demand if he hits the open market? Do you see teams throwing a max contract at him?

   Which big name free agents do you see leaving their current team?

   • Derek Page

     Good, thanks self.

     That’s a tough one but Lamar Odom certainly didn’t make any friends in Dallas. Seems to be clicking OK with the Clippers now though.

     Cousins has all the potential of a top-tier NBA center so I believe, even with his occasional knucklehead decisions, is a max-level player. Talented 7-footers don’t grow on trees.

     Josh Smith seems like a likely candidate but I see both Chris Paul and Dwight Howard staying in Los Angeles.

3. LA in LA

   Who wins the imaginary award for “Team that suffered most injuries?”

   It’s pretty much a toss-up between Lakers and Twolves, but I kind of give edge to Twolves for having lost their best player for virtually all year but on other hand I feel Lakers injuries have been worse in that Lakers have almost always had 2 people injured. As soon as someone returns another guy or two gets injured like a week or 2 later (i.e. Nash returns on 22nd, then Gasol and Howard get injured about 3 weeks later).

   • Derek Page

     No doubt give the edge to Minnesota in that category. Kevin Love has been out almost all year. Brandon Roy as well and many of their key guys have been in and out of the lineup. Fully healthy, the T-Wolves have the talent to stack up against most teams in the Western Conference.

4. Jim in CyberSpace

   Gotta love March Madness, unless you’re a LoBo fan? Snake bit, but not in the “Pit”

   Harvard doesn’t have athletic scholarships do they?

   It’s inter-mural’s for the Harvard boys. They have bigger fish to fry?

   J-Lin even “tweeted” about it.

   The Lobo’s can’t catch a break it seems?

   • Derek Page

     Obviously have to give Harvard credit but there’s no doubt that was an awful performance by NM. No excuse for the Lobos to lose to Harvard. Didn’t the team’s beat writer quit after the game? Ouch!

5. Wil

   Does anyone care that Stotts is likely to cost his team their draft pick this year, grind his starters into the ground, and fail to develop his bench; all while missing out on the playoffs! At what point does this insanity stop?

   • Derek Page

     Being in Dallas, I’ve followed coach Terry Stotts over the last few years and have always been impressed with his coaching style and knowledge of the game. I think you would be hard-pressed to find someone that’s not impressed by the job he’s done this season with that team in Portland. To be fair, it’s tough to develop a bench that’s non-existent.

6. Max Cleveland

   How good do you think Nerlins Noel will be and what number do you think he will get picked at?

   • Derek Page

     He’s certainly a lottery pick, even after knee surgery. It will be interesting to see how fast he can get back in the groove though. I think Noel goes in the top-5 though. Definitely doesn’t slip past 10.

7. Jonathan

   Mavs clearly need to find their post-Dirk superstar. I don’t see Mayo as that guy…you? Could Tyreke Evans be had for similar money this summer?

   • Derek Page

     I’m right there with you Jonathan. Mayo has been far too inconsistent for anyone to believe he can carry the torch after Nowitzki retires. Even worse, he hasn’t proven to be able to be a decent second option either… I’m not sold on Evans either though and, most importantly, I don’t get the sense that the Mavs are either.

8. David Stern, Esq.

   I’d like to make things interesting for Mr. Silver when he takes over my job. To do so, I’m going to allow a random person — you — make ONE change to the NBA. It can be related to rules, playoff structure, schedule, PR, anything you can think of.

   What ONE thing would you like to see change?

   • Derek Page

     I would implement a more clearly defined rule book that takes away the onus on referees to use their discretion. There should be a more exact science to making calls over putting it all on the zebras gumption.

9. Mr. Ballistik

   Spirited showing by the Pistons last night, especially from ‘Moose Monroe’. What off-season moves do you think they should attempt?

   • Derek Page

     Yeah, I guess so… Until the HEAT woke up in the second half again. As for Monroe, the 22-year old is certainly coming into his own this season especially as of late. As for the Pistons as a whole, the team is a mess. I’m not quite sure what they should do this offseason, but Joe Dumars recent track record says he’s going to do the opposite of that.

10. SatBchMagicer

    Hi Derek, to the best of your current knowledge, has Royce White actually ‘parted ways’ with HOU’s D-League affiliate: Rio Grande Vipers?

    • Derek Page

      From what I’ve heard, he’s intent on closing out the rest of the season in Houston. What a mess this whole situation has been with both sides failing to handle the situation properly. It’s a shame too because White is a decent talent.

11. Timo

    Hello from Germany. Can Dirk and Dallas make the playoffs? They are only two games behind seat 8

    • Derek Page

      Even with Nowitzki back and playing closer to his MVP-level form, the safe bet is that Dallas does not make the playoffs this year. Despite playing better as of late, Dallas is going to have a lot of trouble leapfrogging teams like Utah and Los Angeles who are, frankly, better this season than Dallas. Even Portland, who is tied with the Mavs at 10th in the West as of today, is more well-equipped to get into postseason play than Dallas.

12. Jaksa

    Where do you rank Ty Lawson among the PG-s in the league? Top 10,15? What is his ceiling in your opinion? Also,how far can Nuggets go in the playoffs? Thanks

    • Derek Page

      I enjoy Lawson’s game, he’s definitely exciting to watch, but he’s too small and not a good enough defender to be in the upper-echelon of NBA point guards. Could make a case for top-half though. I believe he’s top-10 among PG’s in scoring and assists so, offensively at least, he would have to be considered one of the better floor generals for sure.

13. Luís

    Hello from Portugal.

    1 – I would like to know your opinion on the Wizards. With Wall, they are 20-15. That’s no longer a small sample… do you think they woyuld be fighting for some 6 or 7 seed with Wall healthy all year?

    2 – What do you think of the work Shaun Livingston has put up this year? It’s not like he will ever be the same he could be without that freak injury, but i think he’s shown he’s a valid nba player and should draw interest on the free market.

    • Derek Page

      1. I’ve always been of the thinking, much to the dismay of some of my peers, that John Wall is an elite-level talent that can be the best player on a good team. With a healthy Wall and Nene, I think the Wizards could’ve been right in the thick of the playoff race. Not 6th or 7th but certainly hovering close to eighth.

14. luk

    who should wizards draft?who would fit the best with wall and beal?

    • Derek Page

      I like our guys’ pick of Cody Zeller (check out HOOPSWORLD’s full mock draft here). Great offensive repertoire for a big man, especially at just 20-years old. Would fit in great with a potentially stellar backcourt and would provide a nice punch in the post.

      That’s all the time I have for today guys. Hit me up on Twitter (@DPageNBA) or shoot me an email DPage@HOOPSWORLD.com and make sure and join me next week as well. Have a good weekend friends and be safe out there.