NBA Chat With Jason Fleming 10/24/11

1. john

   if there is no seaosn how would next years draft be settled…and who should toronto draft?

   • Jason Fleming

     How that draft would work would have to be defined in the next CBA and would probably be a headache to figure out. Until there is no season for sure, it’s a waste to try and think up something. I’m guessing it would probably use some kind of formula like the NHL did in 2005. As for who Toronto should draft – that’s impossible to answer before the 2011-12 season even begins. At this time last year who would have said Derrick Williams would go #2?

2. dyrese

   the knicks BEAT THE BULLS 3-0 last season went 2-2 with THE HEAT i think would destroyed either team in playoffs if they play them your thoughts?

   • Jason Fleming

     The Knicks would destroy the Bulls or the HEAT in the playoffs? Um. No. The Knicks are a high ankle sprain away from the lottery.

3. cj

   ok, wrap your head around this 4 team trade.
   LAC gets deng,thabeet, and r.anderson
   CHI gets hedo and kevin martin
   HOU gets howard,reddick, and gibson
   ORL gets scola,kaman, brewer, and aminu

   • Jason Fleming

     The Magic trade Howard and return Scola and Kaman? Can you imagine selling that to Magic fans? I get that the Bulls need a SG, but giving up Deng to get it is a bad idea.

4. Chris

   At this point, is principle driving the players more than common sense? They’re holding out for 53% BRI, but by losing two weeks they’ve already lost more money than if they took 50% and missed zero games. I’m reminded of the Seinfeld episode with NBC where Jerry tells George, “So, you negotiated and held out for less money.”

   • Jason Fleming

     I don’t recall anyone saying logic was in charge of this whole thing.

5. Federico

   Hi Jason, what do you think of a trade that would get iguodala to the clippers, kaman and aminu to the hawks and josh smith to the sixers?

   I think it fills a need for lac and atl, and the sixers add a good young player to the core of turner, holiday, meeks, etc…

   • Jason Fleming

     This is only a good idea if DeAndre Jordan is re-signed (he should be, but until it’s done it doesn’t make sense) AND the Clippers have another big man. With Kaman gone, they currently have no other centers on the roster, and only Blake Griffin, Ryan Gomes and Brian Cook are even capable of slotting into the four. Is the need at the three big enough to justify getting rid of Kaman? I don’t think it is.

6. Shawn

   If the Magic hold on to Dwight Howard this year for one last run and a chance to resign him as a free agent after the season, I think the Spurs could land him. Jefferson will get waived on an amnesty and Duncan will likely resign for less than half of this year’s 21.7 million. That’s a lot of dollars to throw at Howard and a chance fir him to team up with the big 3 plus kawhi and our other youngsters. Your thoughts?

   • Jason Fleming

     But is it really? Check out the Spurs salary (link). Add in Cory Joseph and Kawhi Leonard to that, plus a 2012 first-rounder, and the Spurs are already looking at about $40 million, assuming they can use some sort of amnesty clause that would have zero cap hit (that might be asking a lot). Add in Duncan at even $5 million and that makes signing Howard – remember, at a lower total salary cap than 2010-11 based on a BRI of no higher than 53% – and the money just isn’t there to sign a star.

     Really want to make a run at Howard? Don’t re-sign Duncan (I know, that seems like herecy, doesn’t it?)

7. stephen

   By my count the nets are short a wing who can create a defensive stopper and a backup big not named Johann petro… if we get a starting SF we can move outlaw and his massive contract to backup pf as a stretch 4, which h is what he was in Portland… most vets will opt to go to a contender… any short term stop gaps you see to fill needs and get my jets an outside chance at the 8 spot?

   • Jason Fleming

     Yes, Outlaw IS the problem…but who is going to take him at four years and $28 million?! The Nets need Marshon Brooks or Damion James to develop into a starter who can defend and create their own shot. Anthony Morrow is solid, but doesn’t create his own shot. If the Nets had a scoring power forward, someone who can bang in the post for points, then having Outlaw in the lineup is fine because he won’t be asked to do much other than defend, which he can do. The Nets have at most $8 million to spend under the cap, so it’s not like they can throw money around to vet stars anyway. I think the Nets have to be patient, opportunistic in free agency, and simply hope Deron Williams re-signs in 2012.

8. Trevor

   With the NBAPA waiting for the National labor board to look into their case, do you see any chance of Cohen being called in as a witness in behalf of the players claim of the owners not negotiating in good faith?

   • Jason Fleming

     I honestly cannot answer this. I suppose if the intention is to prove that, Cohen would be someone who would have insight, but I don’t know how it works. Do they call witnesses for something like this?

9. Cain

   Are the Pacres still interested in OJ Mayo?

   • Jason Fleming

     Yes, at the right price. So are a few other teams.

10. Charlie

    In his chat, Alex Kennedy suggested using the amnesty clause on Jose Calderon (assuming there is one in the new CBA). If you were Bryan Colangelo and have exhausted all trade avenues, do you use the amnesty clause on Jose to get from under his terrible contract? Why or why not.

    • Jason Fleming

      If I’m the Raptors and there is an amnesty clause and I’ve decided it’s in my best interest to exercise the clause, then I absolutely would use it on Calderon. He makes $20.3 million over the next two seasons and might not even be able to break the starting lineup.

      A case could be made for Linas Kleiza, but the counter is his deal is only $13.8 million over three years.

11. Sweet Dee

    If you were starting a team from scratch, which center would you prefer and why: Robin Lopez or Omer Asik

    • Jason Fleming

      Lopez. I’d want my center to rebound and play defense. I don’t care if he can score, as long as he won’t fumble it out of bounds.

12. Mac

    If we were redrafting the 2010 NBA Draft. What would your PF rankings now be: Derrick Favors, Ekpe Udoh, Greg Monroe, Ed Davis

    • Jason Fleming

      Monroe, Favors, Davis. I don’t count Udoh in that group because I consider him a center. Monroe is going to play a lot of center too.

13. tony

    Do u think they will meet this week or is the nba just now waiting to see if the players will squeal?

    • Jason Fleming

      I think the players will have to initiate the next meeting. The owners side will wait. And because they are obstinate and don’t want to back down, I think the players will not do that this week. Maybe next week.

14. Brice

    Washington gets- Joel anthony, josh mccroberts, dexter pittman, brandon rush, draft picks

    Indiana gets- andray blatche, eddie house

    Miami gets- javale mcgee

    Who says no?

    • Jason Fleming

      Indiana, who would have to re-sign McRoberts (he’s an unrestricted free agent) to make that deal happen, which would eat into their cap space, and return players less talented and more of a headcase than the ones they can sign in free agency. Would you rather have Blatche or David West?

15. Eddy

    Is blocking the most overrated thing in basketball. Many people say it is equivalent to a pass deflection.

    • Jason Fleming

      If the deflection results in a change of possession, then no, it’s not overrated. Also, I’m not of the mindset like some that a block out of bounds is completely useless. It’s less effective than a block where the defensive team gains control of the ball, but anytime the defender can disrupt the flow of the offense and force an out of bounds play, that’s a positive. In fact, I think a block out of bounds is preferable to a block where another player on the offensive team recovers the ball for an easy lay-up.

      Some things are just less positive than others.

      And yes, I’m a fan of pass deflections too.

16. Eddy

    Who losses? Pau Gasol for Bargs and Calderon. Calderon can start at PG and Bargs would play PF alongside Bynum. Toronto gets an all-star center.

    • Jason Fleming

      I seriously doubt the Lakers would consider that.

17. Eddy

    This idea may seem crazy at first. But what if D-Will stays in NJ and CP3 joins him. I don’t see this as a bad idea. D-Will can start at SG and they’ll have at least one elite floor general in the game at a time so the offense will always run smoothly.

    • Jason Fleming

      It would be crazy to see, but I don’t see it as an efficient use of Jersey’s money. Plus, those two aren’t going to sign to play together. Ever. Both of them have big enough egos and a good enough grasp on what that means to know it would be less than ideal.

18. Eddy

    After this season, do you think Billups will return to Denver so he can retire in his hometown?

    • Jason Fleming

      The Nuggets have moved on and have decided Ty Lawson is their point guard of the future, so Billups wouldn’t be coming back to start. And honestly, he shouldn’t settle for that, not yet. Billups still has plenty of gas in the tank as a starter, and if not a starter he can be a serious contributor to a contender. Lots of teams would use a MLE on Billups to be a veteran leader and scoring option off the bench.

      He may at some point sign for a final season in Denver, but not in 2012.

19. Mynor

    Hey Jason,

    So on hoopsworld, you guys have mentioned that two of the best trades for the hornets and magic for cp3 and Dwight would be to the clippers, realistically it probably won’t happen, but how awesome would it be if both came to the other LA team, they would by far be the most dominant team in the nba. Do you think it could happen? I mean Kaman, Williams, Bledsoe, Aminu and Jordan would probably have to go, but well worth it.

    • Jason Fleming

      Let’s assume Griffin is untouchable (as he is). There is no way you make trades for Howard AND Paul and don’t have to give up Eric Gordon. None. But hey, if Olshey and the Clips could pull it off, that would be a hell of a team.

      But like you said, it won’t happen. I doubt one of them happens.

20. Brandon

    Do you think that the Jazz should start harris, burks, hayward, favors, and jefferson with a bench of Watson( if resigns), bell, evans, millsap and kanter? and what would be the benefits of such a line up?

    • Jason Fleming

      I don’t think Favors should start, nor do I think Burks should start over Bell unless he blows the Jazz away in training camp and earns the nod. That lineup needs some leadership, something Raja Bell can bring. Don’t forget C.J. Miles either. Favors is still too inconsistent. That is, unless the Jazz are completely going for the rebuilding phase, which I don’t think they are. Utah is more focused on retooling right now than out-and-out rebuilding.

21. Byron

    Hi Jason if Kyrie Irving would have stayed in school his sophmore year and put up the same numbers, would he be a top 5 pick in next years loaded draft?

    • Jason Fleming

      Absolutely. Any team who needs a point guard would be all over Irving.

22. Eddy

    Since the Hornets have a low budget and they want to keep CP3, should they sign T-Mac and pray to the Lord that he can perform at or near an all-star level? CP3′s playmaking skills can help T-Mac right?
    Another question, Who was better in their prime. T-Mac or Redd? Who will finish with a better career?

    • Jason Fleming

      I don’t really agree that the Hornets have a low budget. They will not be a tax paying team, but they are free to spend whatever a normal team would (that’s the guidelines that came from the NBA and the other owners). Besides, they could have new owners, real owners, by the time the next free agency period hits. Right now they have $44.5 million to six players (Hornets salaries), thought it’s expected David Andersen will be waived (he signed a no-out deal in Europe). They may very well sign McGrady, but it will have more to do with a need to fill out the roster within the rules of the next CBA than it will be due to having a defined low budget.

      As for who is better between McGrady and Redd, I would be hardpressed to find someone who thought Redd was the better player. Better shooter for sure, but not a better player.

23. Bob

    What can Orlando trade to get mayo ?

    • Jason Fleming

      The better question is to ask what do the Grizzlies need, then see if the Magic can fill that need (Magic salaries). Assuming they re-sign Marc Gasol, their starting lineup is set with Gasol, Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, and Tony Allen. They have a nice second team with Greivis Vasquez, Sam Young, Xavier Henry and Darrell Arthur. What they could really use is another scorer off the bench, preferably in the frontcourt. Does Orlando have that? And would it be worth it to the Grizzlies? Remember, Mayo makes $5.6 million, so the Magic have to have something in the price range to make it work. Frankly, I don’t see a good deal for Memphis.

24. Byron

    How much of a turnaround can T-Wolves fans realistically expect next season?

    • Jason Fleming

      Mid-thirties in wins. They won’t jell fast enough to be a playoff contender, but they will shake out the roster and look like a fantastic pick going forward. There will be growing pains.

25. Byron

    If there is a season, who are your 5 breakout players? I like Gortat, Harden, Darren Collison, Ed Davis, and DeAndre Jordan

    • Jason Fleming

      Christian Eyenga, Ekpe Udoh, Larry Sanders, Evan Turner, Jordan Crawford. In my opinion, Gortat, Collison and Jordan have already broken out. Davis is a good choice.