NBA Chat With Jason Fleming 9/12/11

Chat with HOOPSWORLD editor Jason Fleming Monday at 8pm Eastern about the latest news surrounding the NBA. With the lockout firmly in place there is still plenty going on…but how long will the lockout last?

  1. Jhayee

    is tmac a good fit in chicago???

    • Jason Fleming

      That depends. I’m going to say the same thing about McGrady I did last summer: Is he willing to accept a minimal role? I’m not convinced he did in Detroit. I believe he feels he showed everyone he’s capable of starting in the NBA and deserves a shot to do that. If he is willing to come to Chicago and play off the bench, then fine. However, he is not the answer at shooting guard.

  2. Kevin in Tokyo

    If you were B.Roy would you get a meniscus transplant (cadaver)? Why or why not?

    • Jason Fleming

      Not being a doctor I really don’t think I’m qualified to answer this from Roy’s point of view. I don’t know what his doctors are recommending to him, nor do I know the detailed analysis of the damage and the prognosis. And even if I did, I’d need a doctor to translate most of it anyway. I will say if I were in a position where my knees were degenerative and multiple doctors recommended this, with assurances I could continue a physical career, I would absolutely consider it. If it meant the end of a career where I needed to be physical and it was a only a matter of dealing with the pain for x amount of time, then do it, I’d go that route. But that’s just me, not any kind of commentary on Roy’s knees specifically or what he should or shouldn’t do.

  3. zev

    Any news about BRoy and ODEN?

    • Jason Fleming

      Roy thinks he’ll be ready to go whenever the season starts and apparently feels he deserves a shot to start, that he’ll be 100% (refer back to his comment to Slam Magazine about the Blazers in the playoffs, and his insinuation they won only when he was given the opportunity to play). Wes Matthews is not going to give up his starting job without a fight, so if Roy is really as healthy as he says that could be a fantastic camp battle – whenever camp happens.

      As for Oden, I hear he is progressing and will be ready in January. For his sake hopefully that’s true and he’s able to come back and play well. As a restricted free agent it will be interesting to see what kind of contract he is offered or if he signs the Qualifying Offer (whenever the lockout is lifted).

  4. Saulo

    I saw Monta Ellis shooting in warm-ups and he had a KILLER look on his face, waiting to jump in the game and take over. On the other side I saw Beasley with a similar look, but after the wolves started getting beat by around 10pts I could see Beasley starting to wear down. Is this when the coach has to light the fire? Is that something Adelman can help Beasley with?

    • Jason Fleming

      Rick Adelman is not the kind of who lights fires under players who can’t do it themselves. With regards to Beasley, the best option would be add an assistant who does coach that way who can help keep the younger players, the ones who are less focused, in line at all times. That’s not Rick. He excels with veteran players who know their roles and trust their teammates. If there isn’t an assistant who can keep Beasley’s head in the game – or, better yet, how about Beasley keeps his own head in the game? – then he may end up quickly traded or buried in the rotation in favor of players who will do what needs to be done. Adelman isn’t going to mess around trying to get a player to produce. His expectation – an approach I agree with – is at this level you either want it or you don’t. If it’s not clear to the head coach you want it, why should he have to force it out of a player?

  5. Eldad

    Hi Jason. Do you know where is Glen Rice these days? He was my favourite player back in his Charlotte Hornets days.

    • Jason Fleming

      Here’s a pretty cool site: Lost Lettermen. They do all sorts of Where Are They Now? types of stories which are great reads.

      They did a piece on Glen Rice not too long ago. Apparently he has started a mixed martial arts promotional company. The article is a great read – check it out.

  6. Weezy

    Can you explain to me how the best player in the world (most basketball people consider LeBron the best overall player in the league) isn’t on the hoopsworld mvp poll? How does the 2nd best player on his team get on but he doesn’t? And BLAKE frickin GRIFFIN? WOW…this sites hate for LBJ is sickening, dude has been a model citizen since he was a senior in High School but then u guys are just infatuated with kobe the “accused rapist”.

    • Jason Fleming

      There are some who believe James isn’t the MVP of his own team (I am not one of them), so the rationale is if he’s not that, how could he be the NBA MVP? In September when there is a lockout I don’t really think it’s something to get worked up about, honestly. I will say that how James has approached the game rubs some people the wrong way for whatever reason. I also think if Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant entered the league when James did, they would approach it the same way he did and perhaps we’d be having this discussion about one of them for a similar reason. Maybe, maybe not. But again, I wouldn’t get too worked up about it…

  7. Aaron

    If both were healthy, who would you rather have: durant or roy?

    I feel like roy is a much better player than durant when healthy and does a lot more on both sides of the ball, but was interested in your view as a blazers expert.

    • Jason Fleming

      Even if Roy were healthy, I would choose Durant if those are my two options. I don’t believe Roy is a very good defender – he’s passable, just like Durant – but Durant has the ability to become an excellent one if he chooses to focus on that. Durant is also more explosive and more effective at getting to the line and converting foul shots. In Roy’s favor he is a much better passer and has better court vision – that might be enough to sway me in his favor depending on the team I was putting around him and who else would be handling the ball, but nine times out of ten I’m taking Durant.

  8. justin

    What do you think Utah will do about a back up PG? Dragic? Calderon? And do you see them resigning AK? I just don’t know if Hayward/Millsap is enough

    • Jason Fleming

      Neither Dragic or Calderon are free agents, so to get them would have to be a trade. The Rockets are quite pleased with Goran Dragic as Kyle Lowry’s backup and Calderon, at $20.3 million over the next two seasons, wouldn’t be an efficient use of the salary cap (he makes more than Devin Harris, the starter). And even if he started over Harris, that’s still a big chunk of the cap to two players who play the same position. Utah, like a lot of teams, are going to be looking in free agency for a reserve point guard. The problem for them, with $57 million already committed to only nine players (not counting draft picks Alec Burks and Enes Kanter), they will only have minimum or cap exception contracts they can offer. There really isn’t much out there at PG. T.J. Ford? Acie Law? Mike Bibby? It’s thin.

      As for Kirilenko, I don’t think they will. Utah needs to reign in the spending a bit and I’m guessing he chooses to take a bigger offer somewhere else or maybe even less money to play for a title.

      I don’t think Gordon Hayward and Paul Millsap are enough either, but unless they can get rid of Mehmet Okur’s $10.9 million in trade somehow they are kind of stuck.

  9. tony

    Gut feeling and knowledge that you might have from sources. How optimistic are you that nba season will start on time? Thanks!

    • Jason Fleming

      Zero. I truly believe games will be missed. Maybe not as many as I originally thought – I was thinking the season wouldn’t start until January if at all – but I will be very surprised if opening night happens before mid-November. That is, assuming they come to an agreement quickly and don’t cut short preseason or training camp, which they very well might constrict in order to keep games should they get a deal done in early October. I can absolutely see the league doing so, forcing teams to learn new teammates and schemes during regular season games, rather than in training camps and preseason.

      I don’t see starting on time as likely, though.

  10. justin

    Dorrell wright, Bridrein for Al Jefferson, Who says NO?

    • Jason Fleming

      Utah says no. Wright is a very good shooter and solid defender, but I can’t see the Jazz doing that deal. Biedrins is worthless on offense and the Jazz’s offensive scheme is built around having reliable post scorers. If they made that move, Millsap would be asked to do quit a bit of work with little help. I don’t see Enes Kanter filling that void right away – maybe in a year.

  11. Earl

    With light at the end of the tunnel, should the Kings sign their FA’s and sit tight or keep shopping.

    • Jason Fleming

      I think the Kings should avoid their own free agents. Samuel Dalembert thinks he is a starter, but he won’t be in Sacramento. They made that clear when they acquired J.J. Hickson for Omri Casspi. DeMarcus Cousins will likely now be the starting center.

      Marcus Thornton is a player who deserves a long-term contract, but he doesn’t deserve for that to be in Sacramento. That’s not saying he’s not good or Sacramento isn’t a good place, just that he’s no longer a fit on that team. As much as the Kings seem to think Tyreke Evans is a point guard I don’t see it working. He’s more shooting guard than point guard, and he’s not as good at running the point as Allen Iverson was in a similar role. Add in Jimmer Fredette, Francisco Garcia, and John Salmons – all capable of playing the two – and keeping Thornton really doesn’t seem to be the most efficient use of their money.

      The Kings need to look for big men in free agency. Hickson is fine, but he’s not a definitive answer. They need another center. That could be Dalembert as long as he can accept not starting (and the paycheck that goes with that expectation), but he’ll probably get a better deal elsewhere. They also need a legitimate point guard on their roster, a player who looks to pass first, second and third. If they want to start Evans at the point, fine, but his backup needs to be a pure distributor.

      I like a lot of the pieces the Kings have, just not sold they are right pieces for each other yet. Nor do I believe Paul Westphal is the best fit to coach a team whose stars are still so raw. They are definitely on the right track and have tons of talent and (hopefully, lockout pending) have money to spend. They just need to spend it wisely, like Oklahoma City did.

  12. devonte wilson

    landry fields for reggie jackson? does this trade happen?

    • Jason Fleming

      I doubt it, for a couple reasons. One, what use do the Thunder have for Fields? Does he bring them something they aren’t already getting from James Harden or Thabo Sefolosha, both of whom are under contract for at least two more seasons and play the same position? Two, I don’t see the Knicks wanting to do this deal. Bringing in Jackson, as a 2011 first-round pick, would mean taking on guaranteed money beyond the 2011-12 season, when they have a desire to add another star – hopefully a point guard – to Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire in the summer of 2012. Having even just another couple million in guaranteed money would put a damper on that. Just don’t see how it works for either team.

  13. devonte wilson

    amare stoudemire at age 31 for wesly johnson and a first round pick?

    • Jason Fleming

      Stoudemire is still two months shy of his 29th birthday…so is this a question about the summer of 2013? Under the previous CBA Johnson is projected to be a restricted free agent that summer. Also, the Wolves have Kevin Love and plan on keeping him…I don’t see how bringing in Stoudemire would be a good idea. And even if it was, getting him for Johnson and a first (even two years from now) is probably an outright steal for the Wolves. It would also mean the Knicks would have to be severely disappointed with how the Melo/Stoudemire era turned out.

  14. Jon

    Last yeer westbrook made nba 3rd teem ovr rondo and dwill. And horford made it over nene.Do u agree with that?

    • Jason Fleming

      I do. Deron would have had it if he had been healthy, but point guard is a tough, tough position for ranking the best. Rose is the MVP, CP3 is always great…tough calls.

      I think Horford has a better all-around game than Nene, so I’m fine with that too. Of course, I also think the Hawks need a real center and need to move Horford to his natural PF spot. Says a lot about a player who is that productive despite playing out of position.

  15. devonte wilson

    iman shumpert may not be a offensive player but mike dantoni is a offensive coach do you think mike can get iman offensively sound enough to atleast average some where between 10-18 points a game or not? and can mike help with his playmaking abilities?

    • Jason Fleming

      I’m not sure why Shumpert needs to average that much. He shouldn’t be getting that many shots, unless he’s spotting up for three-pointers all day long. 10 points, I can go for that, but definitely not 18. That’s not why they chose him. And they still have Billups, so he won’t get that kind of playing time anyway.

  16. Wile E Coyote

    Hi Jason. Been reading lots of rumors that progress might be being made on an agreement, but then again it could all blow up. Have you heard any inside info? What do you think will happen tomorrow and the rest of the week with the key meetings?

    • Jason Fleming

      Based on the past few meetings…I think they will agree they disagree and should talk more. I really don’t think much actual progress is being made, other than they are in the same room. Eventually something has to bend, right?

      The key points need to be laid out. Each side should give their stance and rate how important a given point is. Then they can see exactly how far apart they are and talk about what brings them closer together. Until they start doing something like that, I’m pessimistic.

  17. Mo

    Congrats to CP3 and Jason Kidd on both of their nuptials this past weekend!