NBA Chat With Jason Fleming 5/21/12

1. Bryant

   Could you give me your summery for what Harrison Barnes’ career will look like and would either he (if Batums head gets too big) or thomas robinson be a good fit in Rip City?

   • Jason Fleming

     Welcome to this week’s chat! I’ll try and get to as many as possible in an hour…

     I can’t do that. Anyone who says they can is probably feeding you a line. Until we see Barnes match up with NBA players in a NBA game, until we see how he reacts to NBA defense and physicality, it’s impossible to predict. Anything we come up with now is an educated guess. I THINK he’ll make the transition just fine, but like a lot of rookies he will struggle on defense. Long-term he’ll be a solid player, but I think he’s closer to a Arron Afflalo type (which is not bad at all) than a star.

     Portland isn’t going to sniff Thomas Robinson unless they trade up or their own lottery pick (#11) moves up in the draft lottery. Besides, unless he can play center, do you drop a pick that high on the same position LaMarcus Aldridge plays? Maybe, maybe not – that’s a question up for debate.

     Not sure about throwing Batum in the mix. What’s the line of thought there? All draft picks are made before any free agent decisions are done, so they aren’t closely related decisions.

2. Bryant

   Is it just me or are you scared/cautious of all the optimism in Portland? I really feel like we are gonna get let down again. Boy i sure am glad im not Buchanan or whoever we end up getting.

   • Jason Fleming

     It all depends on who is running the point next fall. Really, that’s all that matters. This falls starter is not on the roster…so who is he? If they don’t make a good decision there none of the rest of it matters, hence the plan to make a push for Deron Williams.

3. Mac

   In last week’s chat, you stated “Portland fans should be more excited about potentially adding Joel Freeland.” Couldn’t tell if this was sarcastic or not. How do you view Joel as a pro and do you have a current player to compare him to?

   • Jason Fleming

     No, sorry, it was not sarcastic. I’m a fan. I feel he could come in and add defense and rebounding in the middle, a player who could complement Aldridge fairly well. He’s also more ready to contribute immediately.

4. WBS

   If the Nets land the No. 1 pick, do they offer it to Orlando for Howard or go with Anthony Davis?

   • Jason Fleming

     Here’s the thing about that kind of trade – it’s almost impossible to consummate. In order to trade the pick it has to happen before the draft, meaning using 2011-12 salaries. The Nets are about $1 million below the cap, so they will need to send something out in trade. Now, they are limited because ending contracts and contracts that could end (i.e., options that have not been decided upon by player or team) cannot be traded after the trade deadline. For the Nets, that means they have exactly four players they can trade now: Anthony Morrow, MarShon Brooks, Jordan Williams and Johan Petro, totaling about $9.5 million. Deron Williams, Jordan Farmar and Gerald Wallace can only be traded if they first invoke their Player Options, which all three are unlikely to do. That trade would leave the Nets with Howard and literally nothing else.

     If they waited until July then sure, they could try that. Orlando may even be interested. However, would you rather have a frontcourt of Davis and a re-signed Brook Lopez or Howard coming off back surgery and whomever they can find to play the four?

5. Dave

   Who says no? (Salaries work)
   Thunder Get: Aldridge
   Blazers Get: Westbrook
   Thunder get an all star PF who isn’t a ball hog. It seems like he would fit with Durant better as he gives the Thunder what they need. Also this can let OKC secure Harden long term as they would feel better to let go Ibaka (when his contract is up). All OKC really needs is a point guard to run the offense. (Miller? Billups? Hinrich? Kidd?)
   Portland gets a young all star PG in Westbrook. They should let Felton go in free agency. At the 6th pick they should draft Drummond and at 11 the should pick the best talent available. Also with cap space to put players around Westbrook, they can be better than they ever were in recent times. (Reminds me of Iverson and the 76ers).

   • Jason Fleming

     Neither team is interested in trading that player. Also, trading Westbrook before the draft – as this scenario indicates – is problematic because he is currently a Poison Pill Provision contract (see more on that at the NBA CBA FAQ, question 87, link).

     OKC is probably more adamant about saying no.

6. Robert

   Does Toronto have the pieces to acquire a SF such as Danny Granger or Andre Iguodala? Would the #8 pick and Ed Davis be enough for either of those guys?

   • Jason Fleming

     That won’t get you Granger (whether or not it should is a different discussion). That’s probably not enough for Philly either. Maybe a better idea would be to offer the #8 and Davis to move up, possibly targeting Harrison Barnes or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

7. Robert

   Which team would win between the 2010-2011 Cleveland Cavaliers or the 2011-2012 Charlotte Bobcats?

   • Jason Fleming

     I go with the Cavs. These Bobcats were just painful to watch.

8. Zee

   Who will the Bulls get out of the following? Eric Gordon,Nick Young,Kirk Hinirich,Chauncey Billups,or Andre Miller

   • Jason Fleming

     Since the Bulls can only offer $3 million to a free agent because they are sitting at $76 million for next season, that probably limits them to Billups or Miller. I’m not sure either one is willing to sign on for that little for a bench role just yet, but we’ll see when the market starts to set itself in July.

     If they waive C.J. Watson, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer, they will have $5 million plus the Bi-Annual Exception to spend.

9. Sadd

   The biggest pickup for the bulls in a trade or free agency will be…..?

   • Jason Fleming

     Whomever they sign to play the point until Derrick Rose comes back. No idea who that will be yet, but start going down the list of veteran point guards. Billups probably doesn’t make sense because of his injury, but as a previous commenter mentioned, Miller or Kidd might if they want to sign for $3 million.

10. Deven

    Jason, should we just declare the Spurs the 2011-2012 NBA Champions already? Because they’re not being challenged and the opponents are just allowing them to blow them out. Thoughts?

    • Jason Fleming

      No. They’ve been very impressive, but I don’t see them doing this to the Thunder. That’s going to be a very, very good series. If they beat OKC…then okay.

11. Deven

    Who’s your pick in the East/West to make it to the Finals this year?

    • Jason Fleming

      Before the playoffs began it was HEAT-Thunder. I’m sticking with the Thunder, but I’m throwing my support to the Pacers.

12. Sven

    Hi Jason, great playoffs ! Not knowing what Gasols value is, would LA and Magic consider trading Gasol for Baby and Turkuglu ? Turk could take on a Odom-like roll and Baby is decent

    • Jason Fleming

      The Magic would love that, but not the Lakers. Paying $20 million in luxury tax to have Gasol is somewhat defensible, but paying that same extra money for Davis and Turkoglu? Ugh.

13. Cr7

    The Miami Heat on their draft pick this year?

    • Jason Fleming

      Are you asking if they own it? Then yes, #27.

      Who should they pick? They need big men with talent, but the pickings are thin in that range. Fab Melo? Andrew Nicholson? Arnett Moultrie? Festus Ezeli? Best player available may be all they can do.

14. Jim

    Jason-do you think the blazers would be interested in Eric Bledsoe as our starting pg and if so what is a reasonable trade for each team?

    • Jason Fleming

      I think they’d be interesting in talking, but the thing is the Clips have shown little interest in trading him. He’s still very cheap (under $2 million), so finding something to trade the Clips that they want to give him up is very difficult. The Blazers probably don’t have the right pieces to make a deal happen.

15. jey

    When can teams start trading again, draft night, and free agency?

    • Jason Fleming

      Teams can start trading when their season is over. Right now all teams but the Lakers, Thunder, Spurs, Sixers, Celtics, HEAT and Pacers can make deals, but it’s rare to see them until mid to late June, before the draft. Also, as I noted earlier, impending free agents or players with undecided options cannot be traded. Teams can sign free agents on July 11th.

16. Scott

    Sorry to break your heart, but Stan Van Gundy will be coaching the Clippers next year. But if that doesn’t work out how do you think McMillan would work out with the Clips?

    • Jason Fleming

      Not mine, though he would be very entertaining. I like SVG, but I don’t believe he’s the right personality for the Blazers. McMillan would do a very good job for the Clips or wherever else he ends up. This season in Portland was just a bad situation and McMillan paid the price for a roster that didn’t work out as expected.

17. Ball15Life

    What do you think of the current Warriors roster? I like the move for Bogut, but I don’t see the team at best being higher than a 7th seed if healthy and almost certainly never competing for a championship. If I were management of any bad team, I ‘d throw the wholfe farm at Charlotte (or whoever) for the #1 pick (for GS, Curry, Bogut, Thompson, 1st rounders) and take on Maggette’s and Thomas’ contract (or any other team’s bad contracts.) Very unlikely, but if Davis is the next Duncan, you have to take that chance

    • Jason Fleming

      Then you have a roster of Davis, David Lee, Maggette and Thomas. Yikes. I see where you are going, but that’s a lot to give up for Davis. Even if he is the next Duncan, he needs talent around him to be successful. If the Warriors empty the cupboard for him, what’s left?

18. RunTMCboy

    Jason, why does evey keep saying OKC has to choose between Harden and Ibaka? Is OKC not willing to pay luxury tax to keep them both?

    • Jason Fleming

      To me that’s a question we don’t know the answer to – yet. OKC has resisted the tax line so far which I think is why people assume they won’t pay tax. Also, with the new CBA the stricter luxury tax rules will kick in for 2013-14, when new deals for Ibaka and Harden kick in. It’s widely assumed almost no team – even the Lakers – will want to keep being a tax payer in under the new system, especially a small market team.

      Realistically it just makes sense to not pay them both. Because of the money they already have tied up in Durant and Westbrook, it makes sense to choose one. I would choose Harden.

19. Will

    Do you think Dwight is the next to go in Orlando?

    • Jason Fleming

      Not really. Teams aren’t going to be excited to trade for him fresh off back surgery when his rehab has barely begun. If the Magic trade him now they will get pennies on the dollar.

20. Jon

    What are Miami’s chances of winning the series against the Pacers? I knew coming in playing the Pacers would be tough, but with Bosh out and Wade injured, even though he played well last game and a terrible bench, do you think this will go to 7?

    And what do you feel about Skip Bayless(no need to answer this question)? He’s the most biased person towards Lebron that I’ve ever seen. The things he says just don’t make sense

    • Jason Fleming

      Miami still has a very good shot at winning. They still have homecourt and they still have the best player…but how long can LeBron James carry the team on his shoulders? He’s an amazing player, but that’s tiring. Still, no one will be surprised if he pulls it off, will they?

21. Izz

    If they do infact secure the #1 pick & draft Anthony Davis, Bobcats send Cory Maggette/Bismack Biyombo to Pistons for Ben Gordon/Austin Daye. What do you think?

    • Jason Fleming

      Not sure I see what’s in that for Detroit. Just the one year less of paying Gordon? If they can convince Ben Wallace to mentor Biyombo that would be worth it right there.

22. ric kyle

    So…Anthony Davis, Kemba Walker, Gerald Henderson, Bismack Biyombo, Nate McMillian, etc. Do the Bobcats finish with that much better of a record?

    • Jason Fleming

      I feel very confident in saying they will at least double their win total in 2012-13.

23. Chriz

    Good day! Who do you think will be te magic’s new coach and gm and will dwight wear blue and white pinstripes next season. Thanks!

    • Jason Fleming

      It wouldn’t surprise me to see Donnie Walsh down there – doesn’t this role seem perfect for him? As far as coach, I really think we need to wait until the season is over. As I said before, Dwight doesn’t have a lot of trade value right now.

24. Kostas

    Hi from Greece.Can the Celtics sign O.J. Mayo,J. Green,Hibbert and keep K.G.?How do you think to play together Rondo,Mayo,Green,Bass and Hibbert and Pierce,K.G. from the bench?How good can be this team?

    • Jason Fleming

      Money-wise sure, they could do that. However, Hibbert and Mayo will be restricted free agents and there is close to a zero chance the Pacers let Hibbert go. That would be a very solid team.

25. Jeff

    What would you think of the Blazers offering the #6 (if they get it) and #11 picks, Shawne Williams/Nolan Smith to LA for Pau Gasol? Could he man the center position next to LMA?

    • Jason Fleming

      He definitely could – he’s done it many times. However, that deal doesn’t work. Both teams are over the cap and the picks carry no value until they become players. Williams and Smith only make $4.3 million this year and $4.5 million next year.

      In July they could do this deal, but I don’t know that’s the direction Portland wants to go.

26. Clancey Wiggum

    Are the raptors shopping Calderon?

    • Jason Fleming

      Not actively right now, but few teams are shopping at the moment. When we get closer to the draft I expect Calderon’s name will come up a lot.

27. Ball15Life

    Has Bynum passed Howard? I think so, Bynum has much better foot work and utilizes great post moves, Howard muscles his way in and does this wierd looking push hook. Also, who’s 3rd behind them? Hibbert?

    • Jason Fleming

      Last question!

      If Howard is healthy, which he wasn’t most of this season, no. He’s a heck of a lot closer though. I like Hibbert at third, but Marc Gasol and Andrew Bogut (when healthy) would be excellent choices too. Depends on what exactly you prioritize for your center.

      Thanks for all the great questions! No chat next week because of the U.S. holiday, but in the meantime hit me up on Twitter @jfleminghoops!