NBA Chat With Derek Page 5/26/12

1. Rockets Fan On Strike till Morey is Fired.

   I hope the positive that comes out of the Clippers sweep is they replace Vinnie Del Negro with a competent coach. SA is a great team but with as much talent as LAC had they should have been competitive with SA. Del Negro is obviously the problem. I’ll give an example of bad coaching on VDG part, Chris Paul inbouding the ball in late game situations. CP3 is under 6 feet.

   • Derek Page

     Welcome to the chat NBA fans. Mammoth Game Seven looming tonight and plenty of offseason-related questions to get to as well. Let’s get started.

     That’s been the elephant in the room all season for the LA Clippers and the obvious fact was that this team simply didn’t trust or respond well to Del Negro. The Clippers are in the process of weighing the pros and cons of bringing back Del Negro but you’re right the writing is on the wall.

2. Dr. J

   As a Jazz fan I have been dreaming up trades to fix our big man log jam. But I’m stuck on one problem, Al Jefferson. Sure he has proven he can be a 18/9 guy. But can you think of any team that would give up anything of value for him?

   • Derek Page

     I believe the better course of action is to keep Al Jefferson and try to find a taker for Paul Millsap. He’s a proven 16 and 8 player and, at just 27-years old, would bring back better value than Jefferson. With Derrick Favors on the cusp of possibly being an All Star player in this league at the power forward position, the best way to get rid of the logjam at the 4 would be to take offers for Millsap. Quality centers are more difficult to come by.

3. Daryl

   What do you think of this draft day trade? It works on nba trade machine. Can Orlando find a better deal in your estimation? Is this enough for NOLA? They save cash$$ while getting decent talent back

   Miami HEAT get: D. Howard, H. Turkoglu, Chris Duhon, Q. Richardson, Earl Clark, J. Harper

   Orlando Magic get: Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza, Jarrett Jack, U. Haslem, S. Battier, Chris Bosh

   New Orleans Hornets get: Glen Davis, M. Chalmers, Joel Anthony, Norris Cole, rights to MIA’s late 1st rounder

   • Derek Page

     Well Daryl, that 16-player trade would have to be one of the largest in NBA history (if not the largest) but I’ll humor you. Let’s break down the big pieces: Dwight Howard goes to Miami to join Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Emeka Okafor fills Howard’s spot at center in Orlando and is joined by Chris Bosh. And the New Orleans Hornets get… Glen Davis, Mario Chalmers and Noris Cole? Don’t see the Hornets getting involved and taking scraps just to allow the HEAT and Magic to complete a trade. I also believe Orlando will field better offers than that when the dust is settled.

4. Deven

   Hi Derek. If today’s game is the final game for the Boston Celtics and their Big Three or Four, what’s next for them? Please tell me KG and Ray will go somewhere else.

   • Derek Page

     Ray Allen is almost assuredly gone. He’s going to have surgery to remove bone spurs this offseason and after that there’s a good chance he lands with a contender at a reasonable price. In terms of Kevin Garnett, I’ve heard everything from possibly joining the Los Angeles Lakers to staying put in Boston. A lot is riding on this Game Seven tonight but this has the possibility of being a drastically different looking Celtics squad next season.

5. Deven

   Who wins the OKC-SAS series and in how many games?

   • Derek Page

     I’m taking the Thunder in seven games but this series could really go either way. It’s likely going to be a great series and the most entertaining of the 2012 postseason so far. The difference in this OKC team this season, and what makes them the favorites in my mind, is the way they close out games. Kevin Durant has blossomed into one of the best closers in the game, taking out proven crunch time performers in Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant this postseason along the way. The Spurs have more depth and that championship experience but the Thunder are younger and simply more talented than San Antonio.

6. Bryant

   Hey Derek,
   According to draft express Jared Sullinger is 6’10″ 280lbs and has a 7’1″ wingspan, this is relatively close to what they have Al Horford at, in fact slightly bigger. are they are similar players and if he does actually measure out that well at the combines would the blazers think about making him the COF? Could he put up a double-double in the pros?

   • Derek Page

     I like Sullinger’s game, Bryant. He’s definitely worthy of a top-10 pick and I think he’s got a great shot at being mentioned in the same breath as Anthony Davis as one of the best big men selected in this draft when it’s all said and done. In terms of your comparison to Horford, he’s actually listed at 6’9 and I’d prefer to see Sullinger spend more time at the PF position in the NBA.

7. zeeshan

   well, oj mayo to da bulls? how realistic is it on a scale 1-10?

   • Derek Page

     It’s in the realm of possibility. Mayo is a quality player, don’t get me wrong, but it may be in the Bulls’ best interest to target a veteran, distribution-type point guard to back up Derrick Rose and provide insurance just in case he goes down for any significant amount of time. If healthy, Chauncey Billups would be a perfect fit for Chicago.

8. superman

   i know you talk about dallas but this regards Houston. I just read something that Kyle Lowry is upset with Houston and he could possibly get traded. They also have Dragic who played really good and its a toss up between who they should keep. I heard there trying to trade Lowry. If he does get traded what trade value could he give to a team

   • Derek Page

     I’m a big fan of Lowry’s game. His all-around play makes him a triple-double threat every night and he continues to become more efficient as a passer. If I had to choose, the logical choice would be to stick with the proven Lowry and let Goran Dragic walk but we all know the Rockets’ front office doesn’t exactly always make the logical decision. Combined with Luis Scola and, let’s say, Kevin Martin; Lowry could bring Houston back a big fish. That package was worth Pau Gasol before the league put a halt to that trade before the 2012 season.

9. jjvega

   Which big players do the Clippers have a chance of landing?

   • Derek Page

     They already have a solid foundation with Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan. The key this offseason will be to lock up Griffin with an early extension and try to work out and extension with Paul who is entering the final year of his deal. Those are the team’s biggest priorities. But, to your question, the Clippers and Ray Allen may have an interest in joining forces next season and the sharpshooter would be huge for a Clipps team that lacked that dynamic against the Spurs this postseason.

10. Peewee

    The heat have a first round pick in the draft…which center prospect do you think they will target?

    • Derek Page

      Center is a definitive need for Miami but it’s unlikely that they find a real answer that late in the first round unless someone like a Fab Melo falls into their lap. Brendan Haywood, if and when he is amnestied by Dallas, could be a cheap pickup and an option in free agency for the HEAT.

11. Richard Gill

    Derek,
    What do you think the % chance is that Dwight Howard is traded to the Lakers for Bynum and a future first round pick. The Lakers need to move Gasol as well and pick up a top ten point guard. Not having an explosive point guard has been the main problem in Orlando these past seven years.

    • Derek Page

      I don’t believe Orlando will settle for a Bynum for Howard straight up deal. There will be better options on the table. In terms of PG, I think Ramon Sessions is solid. Like Jason Terry in the first round, Sessions ran into the buzz saw that is Russell Westbrook and that was a massive reason for his decline in play in the semifinals. Westbrook’s defense hasn’t been highly publicized by the national media but I’m guessing that changes if he locks down Tony Parker in the WCF.

12. T Dub

    With the Kings looking to possibly move Tyreke, do you think Minnesota could be a good fit..? What could they offer that would get a deal done..?

    • Derek Page

      The Kings will at least take offers this offseason for Tyreke Evans but I don’t see Minnesota as a great fit. While Evans is a dynamic scorer, Sacramento will be at a disadvantage at the bargaining table simply because Evans is a player without a position for the Kings.

13. likeabull

    Will jimmy butler plays a bigger role for bulls next year and will be the best scorer at 29th pick that can help right away

    • Derek Page

      That’s a possibility. Butler’s jump from year one to year two will have to be dramatic for him to compete for minutes next season.

14. Benjamin Lushing

    What trades do you think the Lakers will make to improve their roster this summer? While Bynum has proven himself to be a top two center in this league, Dwight Howard is unmatched in terms of being a physical specimen and he brings it every night. While everyone is calling to trade Pau, if we get Dwight for Andrew, Pau could be the soft power forward that he has always been. I think it would work out beautifully. Also, what about Steve Nash for the mini mid level?

    • Derek Page

      Highly doubtful Orlando does Bynum for Howard straight up. At point guard, with Steve Nash is really all depends on him. He’s going to have his pick of numerous legitimate playoff contending teams that need a point guard. It really comes down to how much Nash wants to make next season or if his loyalty to the Suns organization is literally unending and he signs on with Phoenix for another couple of seasons. If Nash indeed is willingly to take a significant pay cut, the Lakers and HEAT among others will be knocking down his door this summer.

15. likeabull

    Will trading taj or asik get bulls a top 5 pick if so whats team would do it

    • Derek Page

      I don’t think either one of those players merits a top-5 pick… Quality talents with plenty of room to grow but either for a top-5? Not if I’m the GM of the team getting hosed.

16. jj

    Do you think Deandre Jordan can develop into a legitimate complete player on both ends.

    • Derek Page

      Defensively, Jordan has all the tools to be one of the best in the business. Offensively, that’s a different story. Jordan’s still young though so developing a back to the basket game isn’t exactly out of the question. For now and the conceivable future, however, defense and alley oop dunks on offense are Jordan’s bread and butter.

17. Derric

    Do you think Roy Hibbert is automatically matched by Indi even if a team like Portland offers him a max contract? Pretty soon they will have to pay Paul George heavy money as well.

    • Derek Page

      I think he has to be, especially after Hibbert produced an outstanding 2012 postseason. Being 25 and a top-5 or 10 center in the game merits a max deal. There’s no way Indiana can justify letting him go.

18. Blake Simmons

    Who do you think will be the better pro? Kendall Marshall or Damian Lillard

    • Derek Page

      I like Lillard’s game a lot and I think he can put it all together in the NBA. The ability to score the ball at will is there, he just needs to refine his floor general and passing skills.

19. NAHMEANSON1

    Which trade do you think would be better for orlando..Adrew Bynum straight up(keep in mind his antics this season and even last year with the cheap shot to barea)..or Tyson Chandler and lin for D. Howard..yes teams may be able to offer better packages but who is willing to give up good talent for a guy who will leave at the end of the year outside of maybe the rockets..

    • Derek Page

      Chandler and Lin is the better package but I still think the Nets have the best offer. A package headlined by Brook Lopez and MarShon Brooks is going to be tough to beat.

      That’s all for today guys. Thanks for all the questions, if I missed you hit me up on Twitter – @DPageHoopsWorld. Join me next week – same time, same place.