NBA Chat With Eric Pincus 10/11/11

Welcome to NBA Chat with HOOPSWORLD Senior Writer Eric Pincus.  I’ve got all the questions I can handle.  Thanks for participating!

Eric covers the L.A. Lakers, Clippers and NBA at large

  1. mhykel

    I’ve been following Kobe’s career since he entered the league. His vertical leap was listed at 38″. I think he increased his leap dramatically the next following seasons. Do you agree on me on that? Because I see some average player’s vertical leap listed higher than him. Do you know his latest?

    • Eric Pincus

      I don’t know Kobe’s leap but when his knees are strong, he’s still can get pretty high. I don’t think he’ll near what he hit in his youth but he has a much better all-around game now.

  2. eugene

    Do you think Kobe can win another title?

    • Eric Pincus

      Sure but we need the NBA to pick back up first, no?

  3. Sergio

    How’s it going Mr. Macri? I get the feeling that Dwyane Wade is EXTREMELY OVERRATED. It seems like when people talk about who the best is, who they would build a team around, or who the MVP would be, I here names like Rose, Howard, Kobe, CP3, Lebron and KD. What about Wade? Great shot blocker, solid defender, ball hawk, CLUTCH, prolific scorer and tremendous leader. Does everything for his team. I feel like he rarely gets any credit for being (IMO) the top 1-3 player in the league? Your thoughts? By the way, how you feeling about my Kings this (hopefully) season? I hope Evans comes back to silence some critics. Here anything on what he’s working on this off season?

    • Eric Pincus

      I think you meant to send this to Coach Macri’s chat but I’ll answer it. I’m confused – you say Wade is overrated but I think you mean underrated.

      I actually think highly of Wade and that he’s the best player on the HEAT. As long as he can stay healthy, he’s one of the few difference-makers in the league – especially in end-of-game situations.

      I don’t see the Kings as a playoff team. Evans can play but he had a lot of trouble with his feet last year – if he can get past that he’s a nice, solid young prospect.

  4. cody

    If you had to pick between battier and prince to fill the clippers sf position, who would it be and why,fit? also using the expired cba for what type of contract they could get?

    • Eric Pincus

      Battier and Prince are not the top choices for the Clippers but if it came down to either in a must-choose situation, you’d probably go Prince because he’s more versatile. He’s a great defender plus he can score in the post or on the perimeter. Battier would be a nice get as a defender and spot-up shooter.

      The Clippers are looking for more but if they had to settle, neither is a bad call.

      As far as how much? it’s impossible to say at this point. I’m not going to speculate on the expired rules because the new rules will be different – possibly very different.

  5. cody

    if the lockout ends today, how soon would free agency start?

    • Eric Pincus

      Obviously it’s not going to end today, but in general the league would have to reach a complete agreement . . . which means lawyers and paperwork, and time. At some point once everything is locked in, then you’d see free agency. I imagine they’d need more than a week from the point of initial agreement.

  6. mateo

    if the superstar players are really sincere to the welfare of their fellow players, why dont they accept a pay cut and increase the min salary for the mid, low tier players and other team personnel? with these, the flow of wealth within the nba will be reasonbly maximized.
    also, i think 50/50 revenue share is fair bec like any other business, owners take a lot of risk in building a franchise. it is they who burdens the loss when their prized player gets injured and pay luxury tax for the players’ signing. i think the players are asking too much without thinking that they dont have any financial investment in a franchise except for their talent. indeniably players are paid with great amount of money as compared to an average american who likewise render their service to their employers… what do u think?

    • Eric Pincus

      The issue is not which players get what – but keep in mind that in a true free market – the big stars would get well over $30 million. The sacrifice was already made on that front a decade ago. You’re saying 50/50 but the owners are saying 50/50 but with what the players view as a modified hard cap – and that won’t do.

      The players aren’t asking too much – it’s the owners who are making demands for a very significant pay cut and system change – the union is giving back, giving back and trying to hold onto something.

      At this point I’d say the lockout is owner-driven and not on the players, although I’m sure they’ve made some missteps along the way.

  7. Scott

    I feel the players deserve the money since they’re the ones bringing all of it in. I also feel like there should be non guaranteed contracts. If I don’t perform at my job I don’t get paid and I’m pretty sure most of America wouldn’t as well. Am I crazy to feel like this?

    • Eric Pincus

      You’re welcome to feel any way you’d like on the matter. I find it unreasonable to ask players to play on non-guaranteed contracts. I also don’t believe the players are really the ones bringing it all in, certainly they are the attraction but there’s a lot of work, investment and risk that goes into the owner’s side of the equation.

      You’re basically making an owner-favoring proposal on the logic that you’re supporting the players so on that end, a little crazy.

  8. Trevor

    Do you think if the NBA was under the same pressure from the national media as the NFL was, we would have a deal by now?

    Assuming there is a amnesty in the new CBA, what C/PG/backup wing combo should my HEAT sign? Biedrins, Haywood, or Dalembert? Baron Davis, Calderon, or Gilbert Arenas? Tay Prince, Grant Hill, Rashard Lewis, or Caron Butler? (pick one from each group). I say Haywood, Bdiddy, & Lewis

    • Eric Pincus

      the NBA/NFL are very different – we’re talking about different issues. I would say the NFL was under tremendous financial pressure to strike a deal. Also, remember the NFL doesn’t play many games. Lose even one week and that’s a much bigger chunk of the season than what the NBA is dealing with.

      Dalembert is a free agent and might be the best fit as a big. I’d stay away from Baron and Arenas. Calderon is solid although his defense is awful. Prince and Hill would be great although age is an issue with Grant. Lewis can shoot although I’m not sure he’s the guy you need. I see Caron back with the Mavs.

  9. Shawn

    Could the Spurs pull off a deal for Howard by offering up Parker, Spliiter, and Blair? Maybe if we take Arenas too

    • Eric Pincus

      I don’t believe so. Obviously it’s impossible to say outright what a team would or wouldn’t do, but I don’t see how an aging Parker (at this point) and a couple of solid but not dominating role players is enough for Howard.

  10. Yoichi

    Eric why don’t all the NBA players just take them selves overseas? Wouldn’t that send a message to the owners or put a pressure on them? Owner can’t make any money with out any players. Just like any other job, a company(NBA/ team owners) can not make any money without a employee(players) or customer(fans). wouldn’t this might resolve issue much faster?

    • Eric Pincus

      Overseas where? With what budget? What teams will give contracts of value given once the NBA starts, the players will come back to the US? There’s no true solution overseas except for a few free agents (Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith, Wilson Chandler, etc.). Otherwise if you’re under contract in the NBA, there’s not much opportunity other than short-term gain which doesn’t really impact the league at all.

  11. Chris

    Will we see basketball at all this year if so, when?

    • Eric Pincus

      I would say by 2012 we’ll see NBA – maybe January if it lingers.

  12. paul

    I have been watching the Chicago Bulls since 1999 Twelve years through thick and thin mostly thin and now that i finally have a team worth watching there is no basketball [a bunch of expletives] after 12 years I’m DONE watching basketball THEY DONT GIVe a rats behind about us why should i want to watch these idiots (I MAKE 25,000 A year and i go to at least 6-7 home games a year)

    • Eric Pincus

      I had to clean up your post a bit to make it suitable. I included it because it does represent how a lot of people feel. It’s disappointing. It’s business. I don’t believe it’s right but it’s reality. The owners are looking for a significant change that they can lock in for 7-10 years and it’s worth it to them to lose games now to get that.

      The players in turn are holding their ground, willing to lose more today to preserve more tomorrow.

      In the meantime, yes, the fans are left out – and people like me in attached industries feel the financial sting.

  13. Victor

    Time for Fans to boycott owners… We need to stay away from arenas. Every day we miss a season is a day we stay away from arenas. Billionaire owners want to get richer. Don’t buy and cry later… We stay away and owners loose money. Everyone let’s boycott NBA. We still can be fans and watch on tv. Let’s make stadiums look empty… Time for owners to know we can impact them to. We are the reason the players and owners make the money. We pay to watch them play… We boycott after lockout lifted… A day for a day beginning Nov. 01, 2011.

    • Eric Pincus

      Fans tend to be fickle. They come back – sometimes it takes time – but the owners are confident they can regain momentum once this is over.

  14. dyrese

    should the knicks trade t.d,balkman as a salary dump for 2012 free agents?i ask this because iman shumpert is gnna be like the next dwade and landry is a great all around defensive wing so they should log alot of time at the 2 billups all we need at the pg iman can go combo if they need defense and speed at the pg

    • Eric Pincus

      I wouldn’t dump Toney Douglas but yes, the Knicks need to mind their 2012 spending power wisely. I still think they have a shot at a third star. From there it’s just fill in the gap with veteran role players and young, cheap prospects and try to make it work. I wouldn’t say Shumpert is the next Wade, that’s a little much there.

  15. Brian

    I know a lot of people think the players are just money hungry, but isn’t the real story of this Lockout that the owners overspent, and now they want a new system that stops them from overspending? Basically, they’re trying to save themselves from themselves?

    • Eric Pincus

      Actually, not exactly. The owners did not overspend. In fact last year they underspent and were forced to give an additional fee to the players to hit the 57% target. What happened was the economy changed and the 57/43 split doesn’t make sense in the economy we’ve seen over the past few years.

      I came into this supporting ownership on that front but I do believe they’re taking it further than they need to, looking to lock in a higher level of profit to make up for past loses – and to really use what power they have over the players to push through a heavier deal than I believe necessary.

      Then again, that’s their right in the bargaining process – to try and get the best deal. I just don’t like seeing games cancelled when I’m one of the people directly impacted financially.

  16. matthew

    i could see the season starting on xmas day.. that would be something.. is david stern really to blame, or do you blame both sides?

    • Eric Pincus

      Stern, as I said, is the middle-man. You need to look at the owners first behind him. The Commissioner represents the players like Billy Hunter reps the players, but both are reliant on their contingencies to make the final decisions.

  17. Steven

    My question is , why does anyone think the players omnipotent. For the players to receive 57% of the Revenue and expect the industry to lose money and expect to blame it on the owners is ludicrous.
    Sterling maybe a jerk, because hasn’t invested in his team, however, he makes money. For that he is criticized. Well you cannot inhale and exhale at the same time.
    We have heard this complaint beforehand GM and the Unions (ownership and labour) for the last few years and you know who paid for the bailouts, you and me.
    Enough already, I love the game AND was a season ticket holder for two different teams. However, no more, let them eat crow , both sides. OFF with both their heads.

    • Eric Pincus

      The players aren’t asking for 57% – they’re already down to 53% which allows for say around $1.1 billion of future earnings to the owners that would otherwise have gone to the players (over seven years). Also, how much are the owners truly losing? There are many ways to hide income, like how the Rockets (and now Celtics) are part owners of their network so while the TV will pay less directly to the team, the ownership stake doesn’t reflect in BRI. There are many more examples but time is a constraint.

      The owners are fully responsible for this lockout and they always intended to lose part of the season. They tried to force a deal down the players’ throats but the union held ground after giving a lot more than the owners did in compromise.

      I still hold the players partially responsible but this is on ownership more than players.

  18. Jake

    How about LAC sends Kaman and Bledsoe to Miami, who sends Bosh to Indiana, who sends Granger to the Clippers?

    • Eric Pincus

      From what I’d heard, Granger was not available.

  19. sajj

    Love your chats…Quick question, why is everyone so concerned about clippers finding a new SF. For god sake, give aminu a chance, sure he isn’t the best outside shooter but give him time to develop before you go spending money on a developed SF…I feel like clippers need to follow the Thunder model in building a team from bottom up in-house. What’s your opinion on this matter? Thanks

    • Eric Pincus

      It takes a long time to just let in-house talent develop. The Clippers want to take a jump now given what they have with Blake and Eric Gordon. Aminu may be a year or two away from being what they hope, but then some players never reach their potential. LA is at least one piece short and a high-level veteran small forward could make a big difference with Mo Williams, DeAndre Jordan, Blake and Gordon.

  20. Paul

    What up Eric! I think the missing piece for the Clippers is a pure point guard. I would target DWill, CP3, Nash and Iggy (as a point forward). It seems like there could be a lot of amnestied SF/SG available as free agents for cheap…Players such as Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, Rip Hamilton, etc. I’m addition to the other free agents like Prince, Battier, Richardson, Hill, McGrady and Jones. Then the players that went to China could be available in April/May like Wilson Chandler, JR Smith and whoever else went.

    • Eric Pincus

      Of course the Clippers would like a Paul or Williams but they can’t get what’s not available. Perhaps that changes over time once the lockout is over and we get back to business but it’s going to be difficult no matter how you look at it. I could see Lewis as an option given he’s such a strong shooter. Forget the Nuggets in China, they’re not of concern.

  21. Paul

    How do you invision the Clippers roster for the season? I think the Clippers might end up signing a amnesty SF for like 1 million dollars and re-sigh Diogu for 1 million. Then they will sign Jordan for 5 years and 50 million. I think they would hold on to all their pieces in a attempt to acquire a point guard. How do you see the Clippers roster looking?

    • Eric Pincus

      As I noted a few times. The Clippers have to wait on the new rules. I see them re-signing Jordan and Diogu is a real possibility as a reserve. I expect Mo, Gordon, Blake and Jordan to start. I imagine Foye and Bledsoe to be the primary guards off the bench. Plan on rookies Thompkins and Leslie getting rotation minutes as they develop.

      That leaves room at three for a starter – but can LA get one by the start of the season? I’m thinking that may be a long-shot but it’s possible. They’d have Kaman, Gomes and in theory Aminu as trade bait. They’d prefer to keep Al-Farouq but it depends on what return they’d be getting in a deal.

      Remember, LA can wait a year and just use the Minnesota pick to add on a nice prospect at the three (potentially a star like Harrison Barnes).

      I like where the Clippers are, as far as flexibility. I don’t like where the league is, so we’ll have to just wait for this lockout mess to be over . . .

  22. Zac

    What do you think of this trade senerio? Luke Babbitt and Arnom Johnson and a second rounder for Jason Thompson? Sac would get a SF that could potentially serve as a Caspi replacement and get some playing time if Garcia is cut with the Amnesty. Por gets a good backup and a little cap space to resign Batum next offseason.

    • Eric Pincus

      I’m not sure what the Kings thing of those prospects specifically but I know a lot of teams have interest in Thompson. It’s presumptive to think the Blazers have the edge with that package.

  23. Leo

    Hi Eric,

    It seems like David Stern is clearly on the owners side for this issue. Is there a reason for him being much more on their side, rather than with the players?

    • Eric Pincus

      Stern is the middle-man. The owners are divided in what they want but unified in that they’re not going to give in at this point to the players.

  24. Jase C

    Do you think Shaun Marks will make another NBA team as a 15th man or is his NBA career over?

    • Eric Pincus

      There’s a good chance he could end up on the end of someone’s roster. I’m not sure he’ll ever be a regular contributor though on an NBA team.

  25. CU Buff

    Could the Heat potentially trade Chris Bosh and someone like Eddie House for Dwight Howard? The contracts match up, and the Magicc would still get a superstar back.

    • Eric Pincus

      I don’t see why the Magic would want Chris Bosh as the replacement for Howard. I’d think, if it comes to that, they need a lot of pieces instead of a second or third-level player like Bosh.

  26. devonte wilson

    these are some possibilities that i think the knicks should explore rather than going after chris paul or dwight two players i think we dont need to win a championship now:

    sign: aaron gray, earl clark, undrafted rookies: juylan stone and malcolm thomas. of course all of them would have to buy into mike’s offense and woodson’s defense along with the rest of the team.

    does this make sense as far as what each of those players can bring to the team in order to win a championship and saving cap room not just only for super stars but for players that second tier type players?

    • Eric Pincus

      The Knicks want to have a team that can win now although I believe “now” means 2012. I don’t see lateral moves that endanger next summer’s spending power.

  27. devonte wilson

    ive heard rumors of jamal crawford, robin lopez, and monta ellis all connected to the knicks in some way?
    jamal wants to come back and robin and monta have been in trade rumors involving the knicks. so tell me in order which one is the most likely to happen, which one is least to happen and which one could happen but has a slight chance it wont work out?

    • Eric Pincus

      Of three, Robin Lopez makes the most sense both by position and salary. Lopez is on the final year of his deal and doesn’t get in the way of 2012 cap room. Crawford would cost too much in dollars and years. If they had a shot at Ellis, in theory fine, but really? Another dominant scorer who doesn’t invest enough defensively (hello Amar’e and Melo!)?

  28. Dwayne

    NBA lockout…what do we do now?

  29. Annie

    Since the players may end up losing the whole season anyway, why not just start the decertfication process now?

    It’s a nuclear option, yes, but it’s obvious that the owners are not planning on negotiating fairly, so these back-and-forth meetings don’t really accomplish anything. The players need some leverage on their side.

    • Eric Pincus

      There’s a real chance that if the players decertify, they could lose their existing contracts with the NBA. Maybe it doesn’t come to that, but the NBA will do everything can to follow through on that threat. Also, both sides aren’t that far apart but if they go to decertification, the season is all but guaranteed to be lost and that money won’t be coming back.

  30. Jeff

    Am I right about the following: Clippers need to use their cap space before signing DJ or they loose their capspace?
    Olshey has mentioned in the past that he is looking to use the cap space in a un balanced/ un even trade. If that is true, then he would have to make such a trade in the off season BEFORE signing DJ. So, it wouldn’t make much sense to wait till mod season for a DWill or CP3, since the whole uneven trade thing would no longer be an option. So I’m thinking Olshey is poised to make a deal I’m the off season rather then during the season.

    • Eric Pincus

      Right, the Clippers need to use their cap room before re-signing Jordan because his cap hold as a restricted free agent is around $1.1 million. Once he signs a deal, he hits that cap for whatever he agrees to – so let’s say $8-11 million in the first year. That’s going to eat up a lot of LAC’s flexibility.

      They’d still have Kaman’s contract to trade after that point (and possibly the 2012 Minnesota pick) but for cap flexibility, especially with the uncertainty with the unwritten CBA, it would seem likely that a cap space deal would need to happen pre-DJ.

  31. Pete

    Eric, what high level small forward are the Clippers looking to get? Seriously, who do you think they will end up with?

    • Eric Pincus

      We have to get the new CBA in. That will set the table in every way. How much cap room will the Clippers have. Do sign and trade rules change? Amnesty? I can’t say any one name right now because the Clippers themselves can’t say any one name right now . . . they don’t know any more than I do. They have their goals and will take steps to reach them once things kick back in, but we need the ground rules set first.

  32. Pedro

    What do you think of these trade scenarios?
    Clips trade Kaman and Aminu to Spurs for Manu
    Clips trade Cook to Miami for Mike Miller
    Clips trade Kaman to Atlanta for Josh Smith
    Clips trade Kaman and Aminu to Portland for Batum and Camby
    Clips trade Kaman and Aminu to Phi for Iguodala, Nocioni and Speights

    • Eric Pincus

      I don’t know if the Clippers would include Aminu to get Manu but Kaman for Ginobili makes a ton of sense even though Manu is way past the targeted age range. I’d consider him Sam Cassell V.2. I’d do Kaman for Batum and Camby – not sure if Aminu should go in that package either but perhaps.

      I’d do that Philly deal but I don’t believe the Sixers do. I don’t see the Clippers going after Josh Smith. The Miami thing is a mess, forget that.

  33. Jose

    I read a article a while back about LAC getting Steve Nash. I think it was something like Kaman, Williams, Thompkins and Aminu for Nash, Frye and Childress. Any truth to this rumour and would you do it?

    • Eric Pincus

      Nash would be the same path as a Manu, a Cassell-like move to get that one key veteran to lead in the final minutes of ballgames. I don’t believe that’s true by the way, that rumor but it’s certainly interesting. Childress contract though? I don’t think that comes into play. I’d expect him to be cut via amnesty.

  34. Zac

    Do you think Earl Clark would be a good fit with the Celtics? It seems that he’d be a good 3rd string SF behind Pierce and Green.

    • Eric Pincus

      I’m not sure he’s going to make a big impact either way on the Celtics.

  35. Raul

    If the Clippers trade Kaman, who would be the back up center? Are they high enough on that Thompkins kid to give him 15-20 minutes a night as a rookie?

    • Eric Pincus

      They are high on Thompkins though I believe they view him as a four, but one who can play in a smaller lineup with Griffin. I wouldn’t worry about backup center, that position can be filled. The key is getting the best starting rotation locked in and then at least two key bench guys.

  36. Jose

    LAC could still trade Kaman, Bledsoe, Aminu and Thompkins for Nash and Frye. I think Frye could be useful as the back up 4/5 for the Clippers.

    • Eric Pincus

      Sure although don’t just throw in all of the team’s young prospects like that. What makes you think LA wants to give up on three inexpensive kids, each the team has high hopes for?