NBA Chat With Jason Fleming 1/16/12

1. keeweekid

   I think you alluded that you like Felton on Blazers. All I see is turnovers, bad shooting, D is eh… I know it’s early but tell me what you see that I am missing?

   • Jason Fleming

     Welcome to this week’s chat! Try to hit as many topics as I can as the snowflakes fall in Portland…

     The turnovers I don’t like, that’s for sure, but I’m giving most teams a much longer pass this year to find the groove because of the shortened training camp. If the TOs (8 today!) are still high and the assist:turnover ratio is close to 2:1 in lat February, then I’ll be worried. As for the D and the shooting…that was known going in. Honestly, I see them as a wash when compared with Andre Miller.

     What I like is how Felton interacts and runs this team. He seems to just fit better, in my opinion, plus he’s much younger and looks to push the tempo more, which is what this roster is built to do.

     It’s my opinion that it’s still too early in the season to say these Blazers are how they are going to be. Way too much roster turnover and way too little practice time for this team to have come together as much as they needed to.

2. keeweekid

   G. Oden will see the court this NBA season. True or false. Any update, what stalled his progress, where he is now…

   • Jason Fleming

     I’m not holding my breath. No updates, it will just be what it will be.

3. keeweekid

   Blazers are negotiating with Batum’s agent. G. Wallace opting out for bigger payday (still don’t see how that helps teams keep players). Financially feasible that they are both back next year and if there is an odd man out, who is it more likely to be?

   • Jason Fleming

     I think it’s still too early to say there is an odd man out. Portland wants Batum to stay regardless of what Wallace decides. If Wallace does decline his Player Option and seek a longer term deal that has no bearing on whether or not Portland extends Batum. Unless talks really break down I’d expect Batum to be signing a four-year extension here soon. So if there is an odd man out, I guess it would be Wallace. It doesn’t seem likely Portland spends over a quarter of the salary cap on two small forwards, does it?

     It’s definitely feasible they come back…but Portland has to find a starting center and starting point guard in free agency…so it wouldn’t be the best use of their cap.

4. John

   Is there a new rule where a team can have 13 active players now? I’m probably behind on this, but I only just noticed a couple of days ago.

   • Jason Fleming

     I don’t have the exact date in front of me, but I believe that because of the lockout and the lack of training camp and practice time, it was deemed teams could have 13 active players a night until I think sometime in February.

5. shad

   Hi Jason, if the Nets look to trade Deron Williams what teams do you believe can offer an attractive package and realistically have the chance to resign him?

   • Jason Fleming

     Any team that trades for him will have a realistic chance to re-sign him because they can offer him more money than anyone else (this is limited to a certain date which I can’t remember at this moment – part of the new CBA). I’d also like to add I think it’s unlikely the Nets do trade Williams (I agree with what Steve Kyler wrote this morning).

     If they do trade him, they must get a quality point guard in return and a scoring small forward. Basically, if Deron isn’t going to be there, his trade has to solve their issues because otherwise they don’t have a lot of options. I really don’t see a team willing to give that up for what may be a rental. There is zero chance of Williams agreeing to an extension as part of a trade – that doesn’t make fiscal sense for him.

6. Drew

   Sounds like Mayo is on the block which if any trade would Memphis accept from Minny for him? Beaz, Wes or Ellington and Peck. Add a pick with any if needed. But he would be great next to Rubio and could get Love to resign. Assuming we can’t get K Martin or Ellis

   • Jason Fleming

     Look at that list and ask this question: Which of that group would Memphis want to make them better? Right now Mayo is nothing but a sixth or seventh man to him, but they know he has value and expect a higher return than what a team would normally get for a sixth or seventh man.

     Does Beasley make them better? Not really. Johnson? Plays the same position as Rudy Gay. Ellington? He’s not as good as what they have. Pekovic? Shrug. The Grizzlies have to be convinced to do a deal for Mayo, so you have to offer them something they can’t refuse. I don’t think any of those Wolves get it done.

7. Anthony Pascua

   Since Steve Blake is out for a while, any chance the Lakers try to pick up Mo Williams or Andre Miller? Both are soilid point guards and are looking for a starting role?

   • Jason Fleming

     Sure, they can try, but what are they offering in trade? They can use the $8.9 million Odom Traded Player Exception on either player, but that means they would be paying $15.6 million for one season of Miller and $34 million for two seasons of Mo Williams (with the lux tax). And on the flip side, would either Denver or the Clips give away a player for nothing but a draft pick? Miller is a key piece of Denver’s rotation and losing him means they have no viable reserve point guard. Williams is less important to the Clips (when Chris Paul comes back from injury), but would they willingly give the Lakers a player that makes them better?

     So far the Lakers seem more likely to weather the injury than make a move.

8. Omar

   Are the Indiana Pacer’s better than Philadelphia Sixers? All espn, nba.com, and other sites have sixers ahead. Why?

   • Jason Fleming

     Right now I have the Sixers ahead too. Any team that posts a scoring differential of +14.9 per game – best in the league by 6.4 points a game over the Bulls – deserves all the accolades they are getting.

     Now, that said…I think both teams have a chance to be top four in the Eastern Conference. Right now they are top six, with Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta and Miami. Two of those teams is not getting homecourt in the first round of the playoffs. (I think New York and Boston will join them, though Cleveland is – yep, it’s true – currently the seven seed.)

9. Mac

   Which rookie has disappointed you the most so far this season?

   • Jason Fleming

     Honestly? I don’t see that any of the rookies have disappointed me. Most of them are either doing about what I expected or exceeding expectations. The ones who aren’t getting as many minutes I can understand why for the most part. If I had to pick any rookie, I suppose I’d say Nolan Smith. Then again, I don’t think his inability to force himself into the regular rotation is all his fault. He could probably do more, but Coach Nate McMillan isn’t giving him a lot of chances either.

10. Frank

    If the Boston Celtics were in a seven game playoff series with the Indiana Pacers tomorrow. Who’s the favorite in your eyes and why?

    • Jason Fleming

      Indy. In no more than six games. Boston has very little depth, even with Pietrus and Jermaine back. I didn’t necessarily expect Boston to be this bad following the lockout, but I didn’t think they’d get out of the first round either. It’s time for Boston to start thinking about the future. Plenty of contenders would give their right arm and a ton of young talent to take back Kevin Garnett for a playoff run. $21.2 million will return a lot of player.

11. Charlie

    Last week, coach Mark Jackson employed the “Hack a Shack” strategy against Dwight Howard. Despite Howard hitting only 21 of 39 free throws, the Warriors still ended up losing the game. Do you agree with coaches using this strategy during the regular season? Seems like Mr. New Coach wanted to show the world how smart he was (by doing something no other coach did all year). Your thoughts.

    • Jason Fleming

      Umm….I personally hate the hack a player strategy. I wouldn’t go out of my way to make it so obvious, to actually make it a key strategic piece of the game plan. What I would tell my players is if you are in any kind of doubt, then foul him. And if you foul him, make dang sure he’s not getting the shot off.

      Add to that the strategy didn’t work; not directly because they lost, but because it didn’t work to the Warriors advantage (which lead to them losing).

      Look at it this way – Howard made 54% of those 39 free throws. So on those trips down the floor where he went to the line, they scored half the time. Suppose this is 20 trips down the floor (to make it simple) – the Magic scored 21 points on those trips. As a team for the season the Magic are shooting 46% from the field. In a very simplistic view, that’s a lower percentage and would result in less points than Howard’s 54% free throw shooting.

      Unless someone is hitting 40% or less from the line, it really doesn’t make any sense at all.

      Well, unless the Warriors are conceding that without the fouls Howard would have scored on 60% of 20 opportunities, basically saying they have no defense whatsoever. You can fill in the joke yourself.

12. Nir

    Hey jason , why the suns isnt consider a trade for o.j mayo? the grizz wants him out and i think a trade for someone like dudley will fit both teams. the suns gets a young talent to rebuild around and memphis get a great wing player

    • Jason Fleming

      I think Memphis has their sights a little higher if they trade Mayo.

      Yes, it’s true that he hasn’t been given the shot that perhaps he deserves and could make a lot of teams better, but Memphis isn’t going to give him away for a reserve unless that player is a “missing link” kind of player to get them to the next level. Dudley isn’t that guy, though he is a very solid rotational piece.

      I think it’s more likely we see Mayo involved in a sign-and-trade deal next summer.

13. Mac

    If you were a NBA owner, which power forward would you prefer to build your team around and why: Kevin Love or Blake Griffin

    • Jason Fleming

      I’m a huge fan of Love, but I don’t think he can be a team’s only star, so I guess I have to say Griffin.

14. Dennis

    A few years ago, the Portland Trail Blazers were dubbed as the new “up and coming team.” After the injuries to Brandon Roy and Greg Oden, that designation was passed on to the OKC Thunder in recent years. In your opinion, which new team is loaded for championship potential in the next 3-5 years.

    • Jason Fleming

      Minnesota, as long as they keep Kevin Love, has to be on the short list. And after taking a closer look, my short list is…one team. I don’t see any other young, rebuilding teams who already have the young talent on their roster to build a power like those OKC and Portland teams.

      I have no idea what it means that all three of those are in the same division. Probably pure coincidence.

15. Mitch

    Who says no?

    Barbosa to Lakers for Darius Morris and a 1st round pick.

    Lakers could use insurance at the PG and scoring off the bench. Kobe can’t keep playing 38-40 minutes per game. Kapono and Goudelock are backups.

    • Jason Fleming

      That’s an expensive proposition for the Lakers. Barbosa would be a good addition, but he’d cost them a lot with the tax, and losing a first-round pick – even if it’s a low one – isn’t really something the Lakers can justify continuing to do. I think if the Raptors were willing to take a player back L.A. would think about it.

16. jonny boy

    Chalmers, Joel Anthony and Pittman for Emeka Okafor or Norris Cole, Joel Anthony and Mike Miller for Steve Nash. Can Riley pull either of these trades off?

    • Jason Fleming

      Phoenix would say no, so take that one off the table. And remember, Chalmers is a Base Year Contract player – which means less than it used to, but since Miami is a taxpayer is still relevant. They can only take back 125% of whatever they send, and Chalmers only counts as $2 million outgoing (estimated) instead of the full value of his deal because of BYC status. The short answer is I don’t think that NO offer works under the CBA without some reworking.

17. Lazeric

    With DH12 adding the Clippers 2 his list do you think they have a chance 2 land him? Would DJ/Mo/Channcey be enuff?

    • Jason Fleming

      Billups can’t be traded because he was picked up via amnesty claim. Jordan is a Base Year Contract player, so counts only half outgoing for the Clips. The Magic are taxpayers so can only return 125% instead of 150%, per the new CBA.

      I honestly don’t see a deal for the Clips and Howard. I also don’t think they should bother.

18. Tony

    If D-Will were made available, would it be a bad idea for the Pacers to put together a package, or should they give this team a chance before making such a major move?

    • Jason Fleming

      I don’t think it hurts to make a call and see what the cost is. If they can do a deal and keep West, Hibbert and Granger, then it’s worth exploring. I’d guess the Nets would ask for Collison and Hibbert though, plus filler, which in the end probably makes it not worth it for the Pacers.

19. Will

    So Howard might be interested in the Clippers now.. Could you see the clippers trading Griffin for Howard? I think Howard is the much better player, but Griffin is younger and cheaper right now. Or would they try to offer Jordan and some other combination. Couldn’t see the salaries or talents matching up without Griffin in the mix.

    • Jason Fleming

      I agree, and I think there is zero chance they trade Griffin. He has put the Clips on the basketball map and sells tickets like crazy. He has the city buzzing about the Clips. Would Howard do that? Would any deal for him even be worth it if it cost the Clips Griffin plus other pieces? I don’t think so. For once the Clippers can say hey, we don’t need another star. We’re good.

      By the way Clipper fans, that Caron Butler signing looks pretty dang good now, doesn’t it? Talk about a player who was seemingly written off in free agency…

20. jeff

    what would it take to get eric gordon on the pacers? will they just have to wait till this summer when he becomes a free agent?

    • Jason Fleming

      Yes, have to wait. The NBA/Nola isn’t going to trade Gordon because right now he’s that team’s best cheap asset.

21. jeff

    the celtics have j. johnson on the bench and with their lack of depth why is he not seeing time, hes a baller.

    • Jason Fleming

      That’s a question for Doc Rivers, but I suspect it’s because the back of his trading card says “rookie.”

22. Justin

    do you think that the Jazz could trade Millsap/Harris/Bell for Westbrook/Cole Aldrich

    • Jason Fleming

      I don’t think the Thunder would do that.

23. Justin

    Do you think that Utah traded Okur to open up some money for Wilson Chandler? Wouldnt Chandler put them over the top? Or atleast make them legit contenders?

    • Jason Fleming

      Chandler would improve them, but I don’t think he makes them contenders. As far as trading Okur to open up money for him, the Jazz have $58.5 million on the books for this season, so they don’t have any cap space. Next year they already have $51.9 million committed.

24. blazerfan

    a couple of tough close losses for the blazers recently. It’s stressing me out. The orlando one hurt. What are they missing in crunch time?

    • Jason Fleming

      Last question!

      I just think they are tired. McMillan needs to start giving the rest of the bench a shot, because an eight-man rotation is not going to cut it this season. He may not like it, but for this team to be successful long-term players like Luke Babbitt, Elliot Williams, Nolan Smith and Chris Johnson have to be given a shot during games to earn his trust. Playing an eight-man rotation just because he loses one of the nine-man rotation for a few days (Camby) is…um…not advisable at all.

      Thanks for all the great questions this week – as usual I couldn’t get to all of them. Feel free to hit me up on twitter @jfleminghoops and we’ll do it again next week!