NBA Chat With Eric Pincus 8/23/11
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.
I have a question about the lockout rules. So any NBA employee cannot talk to the players? BShaw cannot talk to Kobe?
Eric Pincus:
The offseason that never ends . . . let’s chat about it:
John,
Basically that’s kinda, sorta true. It’s unenforceable to a certain extent but if it comes out that they’re talking, that’s not good for Shaw.
The league can’t punish the player but the team and the representative? Big $$$.
So far the NBA has been lenient in general – allowing Nets personnel to attend Kris Humphries wedding and Mark Cuban the ESPYs.
It’s an awkward situation without a doubt . . .
What are the rules concerning player coaches in the NBA?
Eric Pincus:
Can’t do it under expired Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and it’s safe to say can’t do it in next either.
What is keeping the Pacers from being on your Power list? You had the Raptors and Bucks but not Indiana.
Eric Pincus:
I’d call that an oversight. They should have been listed as a potential power team but no more, no less than the Raptors, Bucks and rest in that bottom section.
Are the Clips really after Igoudala or what? I’d love to see him running w/ BG & EG
Eric Pincus:
Sure but not easy to get!
Do you have any "source" information about what the Lakers are doing about upgrading the 1?
Eric Pincus:
Right now? Absolutely nothing. It’s a lockout.
Beyond that, it sounds like they go into the season with the three of Derek Fisher/Steve Blake/Darius Morris.
Hi eric im 6’5 & I want to work on ballhandling some people say dribble the ball harder but it makes me lose a little control and some people say dribble lower and that gives me more control but im off balance wen I try to finish
Eric Pincus:
You need to work with a coach and get some direct help. I’m not great myself with the dribble. In general you don’t want a high dribble which just exposes the ball. Someone with knowledge can help you in person get you to where you need to be.
Yes or No- there will be NBA basketball played again before 2011 ends.
Eric Pincus:
I don’t think so.
Clipps need a playmaker like CP3 or Deron. If they got somebody like that, I think they could get by with Gomes and Aminu at SF. What do u think the Clipps chances are of getting one of them?
Eric Pincus:
They have a shot with the Minnesota pick as bait but the lockout is kind of in the way. If it goes all year, those two become free agents and there’s a chance there’s no sign and trade in the new deal. LAC would have cap room but would either sign outright?
Shouldn’t Orlando give in, trade Howard and include Turk or Arenas and start over.
Eric Pincus:
They may not get the chance if the lockout lasts all year. Also, who wants to take on Turkoglu and Arenas, given that it won’t be long before Howard is a free agent?
I read about Kobe’s declining skill set. Isn’t it possible that Kobe’s knee strength might be improved from last year? He entered last season hobbled but has had a chance to rehab the knee this summer.He may have some life left in him yet
Eric Pincus:
I expect Kobe to have a stronger season from a health perspective (knee) after this period of rest which may extend longer than anyone hopes.
Do you feel KB is still the #1 option on the Team, Or do you feel AB has taken that spot now? Thanks E!
Eric Pincus:
Kobe is still #1. I’d even say that Gasol is locked in at #2 and Drew still fighting to be the third scorer although that might adjust over time.
I can’t believe you suggested Blake Griffin to the Lakers in your recent article. Despite what their fans and local media may think, every NBA player is not dying to play for the Lakers. I guess your no better than those hacks on 710.
Eric Pincus: I didn’t say that Griffin would come to the Lakers. I didn’t say the Clippers wouldn’t extend him before them. What I did say is that the Lakers have $0 in salary past Kobe’s current contract so in the summer of 2014, LA would naturally go after the best players available . . . and Griffin technically may be available and on top of that list. Personally I expect Blake to take an extension with the Clippers before then but it doesn’t matter what I, you or anyone thinks. It matters what Griffin actually does and until he does something otherwise (extension), the possibility remains for the Lakers. Just like how I listed LeBron James as a possible option for LAC last summer and Cleveland fans didn’t exactly appreciate that either, but it was factual.
Who do you think will have more all star appearances by the end of their careers: Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans, or Rajon Rondo
Eric Pincus:
Rondo, Gordon and then Evans.
Assuming we have a season, any games in London this year? Also, please define a reach in foul… Is it just touching their hands, not the ball? Thanks !
Eric Pincus:
There aren’t any international games planned this year, specifically because of the uncertainty surrounding the lockout.
The "reach-in" is kind of a general term for when a player uses their hands to try and grab at a ball possessed by an opponent.
The actual foul called is more about illegal contact in general. A player can "reach-in" and swipe the ball away legally as long as that contact doesn’t happen (or isn’t noticed).
I don’t like Aminu and Bledsoe on the Clipps. They need shooters to surround Blake. Those guys can’t shoot. I would rather have Foye as back up PG and sign any FA SF that could shoot!
Eric Pincus:
Aminu was an impressive shooter early. I think he may develop a reliable three-point shot.
Bledsoe isn’t much of a shooter but a team needs more than just shooters. His ability to change the pace of the game off the bench is valuable. He’s a scrappy player.
Foye isn’t a point guard. He’s better backing up Gordon.
The Clippers would like to add a shooter at the three if they can.
Any thoughts on a 3 team deal sending Josh smith to play the 3 in LA, Kaman and Beasley to Atlanta, and Hinrich and the Clippers’ 1st to minny (top 15 protected)?
Eric Pincus:
The Clippers don’t really want Josh Smith. The Wolves aren’t going to finish outside of the top 15 next year (bottom 15 really), so why is that pick included in your proposal?
Is it worth running Fisher off the bench and trying to develop Steve Blake or Shannon Brown as a starting PG then focusing on getting good trades and new people in on the other 3 positions.. OR getting a brand new starting PG
Eric Pincus:
The Lakers are going to stick with Fisher as starter with Blake playing sizable minutes. They’ll give the kid Morris a look.
Brown likely doesn’t return.
The options at point guard right now are slim so they make the best with what they have.
Eventually Odom would be the obvious trade bait but it’s unclear when, for who and/or what at this point.
pacers should go after landry for cheaper than dwest and get a decent backup pg with the cap space. eric maynor and filler for Amir Johnson? Morrow for Kleiza. Thoughts?
Eric Pincus:
George Hill is a solid reserve point guard behind Collison. David West is a lot better than Landry.
Jumping to the Raptors, Maynor is so-so. If you’re trying to dump Johnson for a backup point guard, I guess so but I’m not in love with that.
Morrow is a great shooter but not really well-rounded enough although if the price is Kleiza, perhaps.
I read your article on Life after Kobe…did you really need to add the part about What if Griffin doesnt resign and joins he lakers?
Eric Pincus:
Isn’t it relevant? Wouldn’t the Lakers go after the best player available, if he’s available?
According to one agent who was briefed on the owners’ proposal, Lamar Odom potentially would see his salary plummet from $8.9 million to $2.6 million next season if they accept the new cba as is. Why would the players ever accept this?
Eric Pincus:
That’s not accurate. It’s just not.
Eric, What do you think about Joe Abunassar’s two-week league in Vegas?
Eric Pincus: Sounds great. I may have to head out to Vegas to get a peek at it.
David Stearn said that maybe 10 to 15 players would actually play overseas during the lockout. Do you have a count on how many have actually signed overseas deals? It seems like closer to 50 to me and many more talking to foreign teams.
Eric Pincus:
What 50 players have gone overseas? More importantly which significant players have gone overseas with no opt-out clauses for when the lockout is over?
It’s just not significant.
Lockout good because it gives older guys (kobe) time to rest and heal or bad because it wastes a year of a guy who is now 33?
Eric Pincus:
It’s bad.
Hey Eric, if a miracle happens and suddenly there wont be a lockout, the season continues as scheduled, will the nba players who have signed overseas contracts, can they opt out and go back to their mother teams in the nba?
Eric Pincus:
Only a few didn’t get opt outs. Will the NBA survive without Sasha Vujacic for a year? Probably so.
FIBA has said players under contract with the NBA can’t be signed without an opt out.
since theres an nba lockout going on, lets talk about mlb ! whos taking it tonight SD @ SF with latos and cain facing off!!?
Eric Pincus:
Is there a hoop?
I think Clipps should offer Tay Prince 4yrs/28mill with 10mill coming in the 1st year and 6mill the following 3yrs. That’s really all Clipps need, a 4th option scorer that plays D and a vet leader. Blake already said they dont need anymore kids.
Eric Pincus:
I don’t like that money for Prince and more importantly, I don’t believe the Clippers like that money for Prince.
He’s on their list but far down it.
I’ve also heard that Tayshaun doesn’t necessarily want to play in Los Angeles in general (Clippers or Lakers). Something having to do with his hometown ties as a negative.
Nice article on Kobe and the Lakers future. What strategy would you like them to follow for the next few years?
Eric Pincus:
If they can get value for Odom, that’s the least destructive to the here and now that might provide the right piece for the future.
Educated guess, what ever that is? What’s the over/under for the "new" Cap? Is it gonna be hard, soft, or semi er…??? Which means alot, a player only has so many years in the league.
Eric Pincus:
It won’t be a hard cap but it will be more restrictive.
Let’s say a player is a FA and he doesn’t get the deal he wants or the team he wants can he possibly sit out an entire year and wait for his team of choice to have the cap space to allow him to be signed or is that against the rules?
Eric Pincus:
Of course. If a player is an unrestricted free agent, why would he be obligated to sign with any team?
What if the players showed up as scheduled to play? They could come up with a name, sell discounted tickets and split the revenues. I know it’s not that easy but the arenas will be empty so why not? It would have to be better than playing over seas.
Eric Pincus:
What if you and I showed with three friends – can we play at STAPLES? Do you want to be the Lakers or Clippers?
Lang Green said he would take Emeka Okafor as his center over Kendrick Perkins. Do you agree?
Eric Pincus:
Actually no.
Hey Eric, Nothing to do in the lockout but cook up hypothetical trades. What do you think of Boston signing and trading Green (with J.O.) for Kaman. I’m not sure Green is the answer but might fill a need for both teams.
Eric Pincus:
The Clippers don’t really see it re: Green.
Which team do you think has the greatest chance to make the playoffs next year? Houston Rockets or Phoenix Suns
Eric Pincus:
Between the two I’d go Suns.
Gasol was non existent during the series with the Mavs,should he had shown up it would have been a different story . Do u think that the lakers will be much improved even if the team is kept intact? I don’t think we’ll see that Pau performance again.
Eric Pincus:
Pau was worn down from the early season stretch with no Bynum/Ratliff – plus the three straight trips to the NBA Finals.
LA didn’t provide any outside shooting to give him space to work.
It was a mess but it should improve for the Lakers even without any significant changes.
Bynum, Blake, Walton for CP3 + Okafor
Eric Pincus:
Interesting option I’ve discussed previously although I don’t expect it.
If the lockout persists into the season, What do you truly feel I will do.. PS, Its my bday today too, Holla!!!
Eric Pincus:
If the lockout goes long enough, Bryant will probably play some stretches overseas. It may not be in a specific league but he’ll get some time in competitively and lucratively.
Why don’t the Clippers want to sign a restricted SF this summer? Is it because they want the cap to sign a superstar,if so, what prevents them from adding say a Wilson Chandler as another trade piece for a superstar trade?
Eric Pincus:
The Clippers, in general, aren’t trying to sign free agents at all. The preferred method right now would be trade. They’re not too high on Chandler so why overpay for a guy they don’t want – just to lure him away as a restricted free agent?
Which frontcourt will perform better next season? Andrea Bargnani and Ed Davis or Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson
Eric Pincus:
I’d go Raptors next year, compartively speaking.
Hi eric, aren’t the owners bluffing? If we lose a whole season d howard cp3, d will, westbrook, d rose eric gordon all become restricted or unrestricted next summer. I just don’t buy that the owners would risk losing them by missing a whole season.
Eric Pincus:
I don’t believe they’re bluffing.
If you were the GM of the Nuggets and because of the new CBA can only resign either Nene Hilario/Aaron Affalo, Nene/Wilson Chandler, or Nene/Kenyon Martin. Which pair do you keep and why.
Eric Pincus:
Nene and Afflalo without a second thought. They’re the better players, flat out.
I don’t think DWill or CP3 would sign outright with Clipps. Clipps would have to make a trade ASAP. I they are able to do an extend and trade I would offer a deal starting at Gordan/Williams/Minny pick.
Eric Pincus:
They won’t do Gordon and the Minny pick, even for a superstar.
Eric, Great article today. My Q is: Do you see the Lakers going the more "Laker-way" of rebuilding by doing it via Trades/Free-agency or do u think there is a chance they might go the more conventional way by doing it through draft?Thnx
Eric Pincus:
The Lakers will follow the path wherever it takes them but history says they mostly get it done via free agency. The draft becomes an important part of the equation but possibly via trade (a la Kobe Bryant via Vlade Divac).
i wish cp3 could end up with the lakers bt i cant see him wanting to help kobe beat lbj in the finals..any chance of this? could LA present the better trade for NO
Eric Pincus: I really don’t think Paul, given the opportunity, is not going to want to be a Laker. It would probably take Bynum and I’m not sure that happens for either team.
The players seem very united. Are the owners equally united or is there the potential that some proposals could fragment the owners into coalitions?
Eric Pincus:
The players are more likely to fragment than the owners.
Lakers need to do something. I hate the way their roster is right now. What could they do? We know Bynum us not going any where. For some reason I think OJ Mayo would be a great under the radar move for the Lakers.
Eric Pincus:
Mayo would be a nice addition but how exactly?
And I’m not sure "hate" makes sense for the Laker roster. This is almost the exact same team that won the title just a year ago.
CP3 could make Griffin a 28ppg MVP type of player. What do u think?
Eric Pincus:
Griffin may do that without Paul.
With all of the kings new additions how do you see them faring this year particulary chemistry wise. Do you think tyreke evans will take that step to becoming an allstar?
Eric Pincus:
I’m not high on the Kings yet – it’s going to be a step forward but one that will take some serious time to be significant. They need Evans to stay healthy and to grow as a playmaker and scorer.
Hey, everyone knows that the knicks need size inside. so whats the best / most realistic option: jerome jordan, josh harrelson, amare another season at the 5 , trade for robin lopez or sign a guy like kwame brown, what do you think??
Eric Pincus:
If the season isn’t cancelled, I don’t see the Knicks giving more than a one-year deal to preserve their spending power in 2012. That’s significant and could get in the way when it comes to adding the right big man this coming year.
Sam Dalembert makes a lot of sense but he’ll likely want more than a one-year deal. I was thinking Joel Przybilla.
Hey Eric, In your opinion what are the chances we get a full season next year? And ultimately which side do you see winning this battle owners/players? Thanks
Eric Pincus:
Full season = slim. Partial = solid. No season? More likely than full, less likely than partial.
I see the owners winning . . .
If I’m LAC,I would make DWill my #1 target. I would offer Gordan,Williams,Foye,Aminu,Minny pick for DWill,Morrow. Do u think LAC might do something like this? DWill makes everyone better.
Eric Pincus:
The Clippers view Gordon as a player on the verge of being an elite guard. They’re not trading him and the Minny pick for Williams or Paul. It’s just not in their plan.
Now obviously teams make compromises but I don’t believe the Clippers go there.
Hi Eric, If the Clippers make the playoffs and make good runs in the playoffs while Blake is under contract, do you see him leaving for the Lakers? Hard to see him in purple and gold in a franchise that might be re-building.
Eric Pincus:
As I mentioned earlier, I expect Griffin to sign an extension eventually with the Clippers.
Eric, If the new CBA is much different than the old CBA will it be similar?
Eric Pincus:
This will have to do for the week. As always if I missed you, you can find me at epincus@hoopsworld.com, on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/EricPincus or just wait until next week’s chat.
Joe,
It’s impossible to say what the new CBA will look like. Ultimately the split of money will be far more favorable to the owners.
I don’t see a hard cap coming but there has to be some sort of restriction to prevent salaries from climbing out of control. The partial answer there may be outlawing sign and trades.
I’d expected shorter contracts with smaller raises.
There will be some similarities, perhaps many, but there will also be differences.
I look forward to seeing it – whatever it is – because it will mean the lockout is over and we can get back to games.
For the very latest on all things NBA make sure to bookmark Eric Pincus’ Archive and follow him on Twitter (@EricPincus).
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