NBA Chat With Jason Fleming 9/26/11

1. devonte wilson

   what would it take to land robin lopez in a knicks uniform? what would we have to give up? im hearing a second round draft pick and 3 million dollars

   • Jason Fleming

     $3 million is stiff. Might not take that much. Under the old rules the Knicks would have to trade something though, because cash and draft picks literally have no value in a trade. Lopez makes $2.9 million, so the Knicks would have send back about $2.5 million the Suns would want.

2. devonte wilson

   if there is sign and trades in the new cba where does jamal crawford end up? theres rumors he wants to rejoin the knicks?

   • Jason Fleming

     I’m not sure what the Knicks could give the Atlanta Hawks in a sign-and-trade deal. Crawford believes he’s worth more than the MLE – if that’s still around – and I’m not sure he’s a guy who will sign for significantly less money just to go to a certain city. Looking at the Knicks’ salaries I’m just not seeing a deal that would be something Atlanta would want.

3. Lamont

   Wats Up Jason- I think 50/50 split for bri keep the soft cap but reduce the exceptions like midlevel from 5 yr 35 mil to 3 yr 15 mil eliminate the luxary tax so teams cant outspend each other and we should have deal done easy.Draft Keep The Same Age Limit But Let Whole 1stRd Go To Non Playoff Teams & 2nd Rd Go To Attending Playoff Teams.That Will Help The Bad Teams Out Alot- Lockout Over?

   • Jason Fleming

     You had me a little until the draft part – I don’t think the draft needs to be touched at all, unless it’s to add a third round. That’s something I could get behind.

     I don’t really know if all of those points you made go together. If you keep a soft cap, doesn’t there still need to be some kind of upper limit, or at least some kind of deterrent? Even if the BRI is reduced there remains the potential for there to be $100 million teams – and those $100 million teams have little incentive then to reduce their cap figure and will stay at a comparative advantage over all other teams because they will have more spending power.

     I say if you keep a soft cap there has to be a lux tax (or something like it).

4. JT

   Hey Jason what do you think Adelmann’s plans are for the Center position in Minnesota? Are they gonna look hard at a trade or will we see Randolph man the 5?

   • Jason Fleming

     I don’t necessarily see a big problem with a rotation of Randolph and Darko in the middle. Let Randolph also get some minutes at the four to give Kevin Love a rest. Keep in mind, they did get Brad Miller in the Jonny Flynn deal too. Given the youth on the roster, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Adelman give Miller more run than he perhaps should get at this point in his career, just to provide some veteran leadership on the floor.

5. Jonathan

   Should the Magic entertain more offers for Jameer Nelson? I know he’s tight with D12, but Nelson actually has value and could net a decent post player. How bout Hedo & Nelson to Sacramento for J. Thompson and Salmons?

   • Jason Fleming

     The Kings are not going to use their large amount of cap space to absorb the contract of Hedo Turkoglu. I like the idea of Nelson there – he’d be a solid fit with Tyreke Evans. They both need the ball, but both are smart players and could work it out.

     My only question is what’s the deal at the point for Orlando if they trade Nelson and don’t return a point guard? Are Magic fans ready for Arenas and Chris Duhon to be in charge of distribution?

6. Robbie

   Whose poised for a bigger breakout next season, Serge Ibaka or Marcin Gortat? I feel Serge could lead the league in blocks while Gortat could average 16&10 and challenge for an all star spot

   • Jason Fleming

     It would not surprise me to see Gortat exceed 16 and 10 – I think he’s that good. I have no idea why it took so long for Gortat to take the starting spot from Robin Lopez after the trade – he outplayed Lopez on every level. As for Ibaka, I really think the only way his numbers go up is if he becomes more efficient and convinces Coach Brooks to play him more minutes. He’s good, but he needs to get himself under control a little bit more. If he does that the Thunder could be even more scary. Kendrick Perkins and Nick Collison are still going to play a lot of minutes of OKC.

7. Blake

   Everyone’s sayin Mayo’s not leaving Memphis, but hypothetically what would be a better situation.. Chicago, Indiana, New Jersey or Phoenix?

   • Jason Fleming

     I don’t entirely believe Mayo won’t be traded. At this point it simply makes sense for Memphis to move him.

     All of those are great fits (I’d put Phoenix last in that group), but I think Jersey needs him the most. He would be their bona fide third option with Deron Williams or Brook Lopez. I actually wrote about that yesterday.

8. Marvin

   What do you think is the ceiling for DeAndre Jordan? I think if he gets more playing time like 10-12 more minutes per game he should be a lock for 10 pts, 10 reb and 2.5 blocks per game, your thoughts?

   • Jason Fleming

     At minimum. I think his ceiling is higher than that. 15 and 12 is a reasonable expectation in my mind.

9. jj

   Grant hill a free agent I only see him going to boston and miami.. which one would be a better fit and bigger role? Do u see any other teams that can use a future hall of famer?

   • Jason Fleming

     He’ll get a marginally larger role in Boston if it comes down to those two teams. In Miami LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are going to be on the floor for 40 minutes a night. Boston can’t do the same thing with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Well, I suppose they could, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

     There is not one team in the NBA who couldn’t use a player like Grant Hill on their team. Not one.

10. Daniel E. Colunga

    Hi Jason, hope you are doing great.

    Who do you think the Celtics could pull in at the Center position in order to compete this season… keeping in mind that next season they have only 4 signed players and could be in line for Dwight.

    In another question… do you think the Celts have a legitimate chance of landing Dwight?
    If so, how likely would it be?

    • Jason Fleming

      For clarification the Celtics have six players under contract for 2011-12, plus Jeff Green is a restricted free agent and they have the rights to first-round pick JaJuan Johnson. They hold Bird Rights on Glen Davis. They currently have three players under contract for 2012-13, plus (likely) Green, Johnson, and another first-round pick from 2012.

      Considering those eight players will put them in the $70 million range, they are limited to what they can offer. Few teams hope the next CBA retains exceptions like the Celtics (Miami is another). They won’t be in the running for the big names – Gasol, Chandler, Nene – but if they could get Samuel Dalembert to sign for the MLE it would be a coup. Other than that, well, there isn’t much. Joel Przybilla? Kwame Brown?

      Boston COULD be in the market for Dwight, if Dwight wants to play with Rajon Rondo. In 2012 the Celtics have just $29 million committed (plus Green, Johnson, draft pick) so could afford Howard. That would be interesting…

11. alexis

    Can Chalmers start at PG for the heat next season? Or is there any possible that the Heat can get a natural PG (if there is, WHO do you think can fit) that can help Heat esp LBJ to get a ring?

    • Jason Fleming

      Absolutely he could start. Playing point guard for the HEAT isn’t the most demanding position since most of the time the initiating of the offense falls to James or Wade. If Chalmers can hit three-pointers he can start at PG for the HEAT. Outside of Chalmers their options are limited. This was a team designed around the ability to use cap exceptions to add veterans every year. If the new CBA axes those exceptions, the HEAT are stuck because they are well over the cap for the duration of the Big Three’s contracts (five more years) and would only be able to add minimum salary talent. The chances of hitting a home run there are minimal. Plus, this is not a good year for free agent point guards. T.J. Ford? It’s not a pretty list.

12. Sweet Dee

    Other than Skip to My Lou, do you think anyone else on the AND1 roster (past and present) would be able to make the 12th man on a NBA roster.

    • Jason Fleming

      I don’t follow it too closely, but I did see a couple of events a few years ago. I really wasn’t impressed at all, even though the format isn’t really conducive to showing NBA talent. No one even attempts to play defense in those games…and the shooting percentages are pathetic. Great, now I sound stodgy.

13. Wayne in Naptown

    What do you think Carl Landry’s upside is?

    • Jason Fleming

      Solid starter. I don’t see Landry ever being an All-Star, but he could be a double-double guy and a nice complementary piece on a successful playoff team. If healthy and given the minutes, I can see 15 and 9 out of him every night.

14. Clint in New Zealand

    Who are some realistic free agent tarets for Boston, once the lock out is over? I think the allure of joining the Celtics and fighting for a ring has faded a bit in the past year or so as age catches up with the Big 3. Your thoughts?

    • Jason Fleming

      Totally agree. I don’t think the Celtics have it together enough to definitively call them a contender and they would need a boost from whomever they sign to push them over the hump. Given that four starting spots are locked down with Rondo, Garnett, Pierce and Allen, combined with the fact they are capped out, and I don’t see free agency making them much better than they are right now. If they have to sign a center with the largest cap exception left in the new CBA – and they do – that’s pretty much it. The rest of the roster is going to be minimum deals. They will go for veterans. Etan Thomas? Michael Redd?

15. matt

    Ed Davis for Nic Batum.

    • Jason Fleming

      Portland won’t do that – they value Nic too highly to trade him for a second-year player who doesn’t necessarily fit a need. Even if Batum isn’t a starter in Portland, that’s the kind of value they want for him.

16. Scott

    What are the chances that Batum becomes available and how do the Clips get their hands on him? Kaman and Aminu for Batum and filler?

    • Jason Fleming

      I don’t think it’s likely at all. I think Portland will give him a modest contract extension instead, paying him perhaps more than his production is worth with the understanding Gerald Wallace only has two years left on his contract. They have a plan. Kaman and Aminu won’t really interest them that much (and the filler in that deal is about $12 million!).

17. matt

    these chats r considerably shorter/less questions answered now that the website changed

    • Jason Fleming

      I don’t really think those two things are related. Chats are still an hour…but the tools we are working with are different. We are looking at streamlining the process a little bit and perhaps that will make the difference you are looking for. I don’t have a timetable on it.

18. matt

    Will a team trade for nash? what happens if there is no season? would he join the heat for the 2012-2013 season. they’d be really fun to watch.

    • Jason Fleming

      Absolutely teams would trade for Nash. He’s a steal, playing at an All-Star level and only costing $11.9 million in the final year of his contract. If there is a playoff team wanting to get better at the point to make a playoff run – especially in a lockout-shortened season, if that happens – we could absolutely see a trade. (Caveat: Nash has to tell the Suns he wants to be moved. If he doesn’t, they so far have shown no interest in moving him. He hasn’t done that yet.)

      Nash distributing to James, Wade, and Bosh would be quite entertaining.

19. matt

    orlando unfortunately needs to trade j.nelson. j.arenas + duhon r not that bad and hedo is a good ballhandler too. Nelson should be traded for a starting caliber SG, SF, or depth. (Note-JRich is a FA)

    • Jason Fleming

      I don’t think that kind of lineup is going to show Dwight Howard the progress he claims to want to see. I still think it’s more likely Howard stays in Orlando, but if you are worried about it that’s not the lineup to rely upon.

20. Eddy

    An idea cam through my mind. Since CP3 and Howard might be traded at the deadline. Wouldn’t it make sense for the Nuggets to go for one of them. They have a lot of assets. Or do you think they don’t need a star?

    • Jason Fleming

      EVERY team needs a star. You don’t win in the NBA without stars.

      Denver absolutely should keep their options open. Right now they have $29.7 million in commitments to seven players, but on top of that they have Qualifying Offers out for Gary Forbes, Wilson Chandler, and Arron Afflalo. That’s another $7 million. Then they have to decide how much they are willing to spend on Nene, and will spend another $3 million or so on the contracts of Jordan Hamilton and Kenneth Faried. After all that the Nuggets could have spent well over $50 million, and then they need to add a few more players to fill out the roster (Chandler won’t be there because of the contract he signed in China).

      Denver’s primary trade chip becomes Andre Miller’s $7.8 million expiring contract and…Danilo Gallinari? Faried and Hamilton? Draft picks? If you are New Orleans or Orlando, does that kind of package even register on your radar? And would it be worth it to Denver to gouge the roster to bring in one star? And if they re-sign Nene…does it make sense to go after Howard?

      A lot of open questions in Denver this offseason, lockout or no lockout.

21. Eddy

    Last question i’m asking you today. I’ve seen Kobe play all my life since I was 4. As a LA native i can’t imagine him leaving basketball. How much will the NBA change when he retires? Will he change the game forever?

    • Jason Fleming

      Well, I think you’ve still got a few years, so no need to worry yet – Kobe isn’t going anywhere. I don’t know that the NBA will change at all when he retires, although it could mark the return of the Lakers to the pack. I don’t know that the game is changed forever because of Kobe either. He didn’t force any rules changes or anything like that, he just played the game better than just about anyone in history. The game will miss him without a doubt…but did he change it? Is putting his stamp all over the record books and history changing it? I’ll have to think about that…

22. HotshotGG

    hey jason, when nash retires how would you remember him on and off the court?

    • Jason Fleming

      Great competitor, fun to watch, respectful, and a little bit of devil may care – I love watching Nash. Off the court he is completely selfless and quite intelligent. Nash will be missed when he decides to retire and should be a first ballot Hall of Famer.