NBA Chat With Joel Brigham, 11/3/11

1. Matt

   I really miss the Seattle Supersonics! Seattle is simply too awesome not to have a NBA team. Do you think we will ever see them back? Also do you think a second team in Chicago would make sense?

   • Joel Brigham

     Me too! One of my all-time favorite players was Jack Sikma (mostly because he grew up a few towns over from where I grew up, plus he and went to the same D-III university), and I miss those old green-and-yellow rainbow jerseys. The NBA just doesn’t feel the same without them, and if they’re ever able to get an updated arena running in the Emerald City, I’m sure they’ll be back.

     L.A. and New York are the two biggest markets in the country, and they’ve each got two teams. Chicago is #3, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to suggest that, eventually, another team get moved there to exploit great attendance and TV numbers. Personally, I can’t imagine any Chicago basketball fan rooting for Team #2 since we were all so ingrained with love the Bulls during the Jordan era, but a team would have a better chance surviving in the Windy City than it would in some of the other relocation cities I’ve heard suggested.

     For the record, I think Vancouver is still a really viable NBA market. For whatever that’s worth.

2. Gar?Pax MN

   You have been on Rip as Amnesty cut to Bulls. Seen Pistons message boards & evil empire say: CV first, BG second but keep Rip cause only 2 yrs. I was drinking your kool-aid, talk me down, what do I do now?

   • Joel Brigham

     Villanueva or Ben Gordon make the most sense as amnesty cuts for the Pistons. The message boards are right about that.. I think as long as a team like Chicago really wants and need a player like Hamilton, then you can see he holds some trade value. His contract isn’t exorbitant, and as the months and years of cash owed dwindle, he’s easier and easier to move. CV holds zero trade value, and while BG might based of talent, his contract is essentially immovable at $11.5 a year.

     But. Hamilton clearly is fed up with playing in Detroit, and this would be the perfect opportunity to cut him loose and save the cap space while you’re at it. You can use the spread on BG or Charlie V, too, if you want, but I’m inclined to think they’ll keep Gordon. Rip isn’t a slam dunk amnesty cut, but he’s definitely a consideration. We wont’ know until the lockout is lifted, but until then, keep drinking the Kool-Aid. Rip is the best possible option for the Bulls; we have to hope that he actually does become available.

3. cj

   joe johnson for emeka okafor and trevor ariza. it works money wise and JJ might be enough for paul to stay in NO

   • Joel Brigham

     I don’t think Atlanta would be particularly happy with that. As plain as JJ was last season, I think he’s better than the combined efforts of Okafor (who plays the same position as Al Horford) and Ariza (who plays the same position as like 6 players on the Atlanta roster). I’ll pass if I’m the Hawks.

4. aslan

   List in order who want for Chi SG, what they bring/dont bring to table. List in order getability/ J Rich, OJ, Hamilton, K Martin, Affalo, Matthews

   • Joel Brigham

     #1 Rip Hamilton: most gettable because he could get amnestied and then sign for very little in Chicago. Also, the best fit. Plays defense, but would fit well in any offense, too. Could help spread the floor for Derrick and would certainly bring a level of toughness and championship experience to what is already a very solid Bulls locker room.

     #2 O.J. – I think an Asik-for-O.J. trade is, basically, pretty realistic, but only if Marc Gasol signs elsewhere. Mayo is young but has some postseason experience, plus he’s well-rounded enough to do everything Thibs would ask of him. Could stick around in Chicago and grow for longer than most of the other players you’ve suggested.

     #3 Kevin Martin – Would be much harder to trade for because Houston values him so highly. Not sure about his defense, but offensively he’d be a huge upgrade.

     #4 (tie) – Richardson and Afflalo – Both are free agents, and the Bulls aren’t going to amnesty anyone most likely, so I don’t see how either really works. Toss Jamal Crawford into this fix, too. Any of those three would be awesome, though.

     #5 Matthews (I’m assuming Wes?) – Never even heard that mentioned. Don’t think it’s much of a possibility.

5. Colin Dunne

   The best thing that could happen for the Clippers would be for Gasol not to resign in Memphis, making a trade centred around Kaman and Gay more appealing for the Griz. Rudy is a perfect fit for LAC. Shoots it well enough, plays D, athletic, can get is own but also unselfish enough to take a back seat when called for. You agree, perfect fit?

   • Joel Brigham

     Almost any three would be a better fit than what they’ve currently got. so yeah, I’d say it works. But so would Danny Granger or Andre Iguodala or Luol Deng.

     What would be even better was if LAC was the team that signed Gasol, right? All part of the master plan to lure Gay to L.A… You wouldn’t re-sign DeAndre Jordan at that point, but you’d be left with whoever they start at point guard plus Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay, Blake Griffin, and Marc Gasol. Holy crud, that would be a scary team if they had a legitimate coach.

6. Anthony Sanchez

   Is contraction ever negoitated between the owners and players. If so, how often and well it happen in the near future?

   • Joel Brigham

     I don’t think contraction is something that’s going to happen, even if it would make some level of financial and competitive sense for the league. “Will it happen in the future” covers a whooooole lot of future, so I can’t really say anything for certain. Depending on what kind of damage this lockout does to fandom, and if TV ratings get as bad as hockey’s got after their lost season, it might be something the league has to consider. For now, though, don’t count on it.

7. Mutang

   Amnesty seems to be the latest craze/phase, so with that and Utah’s log jam at the big positions, what does Utah do?? Who do they go after to add or detract from the team??

   • Joel Brigham

     If Utah is going to use that clause (and I think they should) Memo Okur seems like the obvious guy to use amnesty on. He’s going to make about $11 million this coming season (well, would’ve made that if there was a full season), so letting him go seems like the obvious play, especially with Enes Kanter in the wings looking really good after all that international summer play. Of course, that still leaves Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson, and Derrick Favors all vying for playing time, but removing Okur from the equation at least frees up some minutes.

     That’s not a group that’s close to winning playoff games any time soon, but I like the little core they’ve got built up there. Some promising pieces in place for the future, should one or two of them ever break out into legitimate perennial All-Stars.

8. dyrese

   would the knicks make a trade whenever the season starts for oj mayo or russel westbrook?

   • Joel Brigham

     Westbrook is an impossibility. There’s nobody on that Knicks roster that they could offer OKC that would convince them to trade Russell Westbrook. The only way I see them trading RW is if there was some sort of sign-and-trade possible with Orlando for Dwight or New Orleans for CP3. Short of that, I think they take their chances holding onto him.

     Mayo is a little more attainable, and I don’t think the price tag would be particularly high on him, but he did play better after his no-trade to Indy last spring, and I think Memphis will be looking for more than just table scraps to trade Mayo at this point. Again, I’m not sure the Knicks have the pieces to make an offer that the Grizzlies would fall in love with.

9. Rudy

   If the NBA imposes a two year wait on high schoolers I can see more top recruits opting to go overseas. That said, which leagues would be able to offer these player 1) playing time 2) a somewhat reason payday and 3) a relatively high level of coaching/competition? And do you think these players will be more NBA ready than if they had gone to college?

   • Joel Brigham

     If it’s me… if I’m that top-25 prospect who just graduated high school and was trying to decide if I’d rather do two years of university ball or travel overseas to make money for 24 months before declaring for the draft, I’m definitely going to school. 100% sure on that, even if I completely suck at school work. My reasons are many fold: For starters, I’m the big man on campus for sure, and I’ll be treated as such everywhere I go. Call it an ego thing, but it’s the truth. In Europe or China, you’d be nothing until you’d proven yourself, and maybe even then most people wouldn’t care who you are.

     Beyond that, I think the college route is much safer route because top prospects are always going to be able to get their opportunity to play eventually, while that might not be the case overseas. Plus, looking at the sheer volume of players who are drafted out of college rather than European and Chinese legs, it’s pretty obvious which way NBA scouts lean. They have more access to kids playing here, and they trust proven collegiate programs more than do some pro team in Latvia.

     To quickly answer your other questions:
     1.) Euroleague or China
     2.) Same.
     3.) Same.

     As for the last one, I think college better prepares young players for the pros. I get wanting the money, but if you play your cards right, the big payday will get there eventually. Young players just need to patient and know that Europe will always be there. The college experience won’t.

10. Rudens

    If they both would reach their full potential who would be a better NBA player, O.J. Mayo or J.R. Smith?

    • Joel Brigham

      That’s a really interesting question, mostly because I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around potential stipulations. For instance, Mayo actually still has a chance to reach his potential because he’s so much younger than Smith, and for that I want to give him a slight edge in this conversation. Still, if the question is, “Who would’ve had the better full career as a player had they ever lived up to their potential,” it’d be hard to argue against J.R. I’ve watched games where he turned it on and absolutely could not be stopped. I’m talking pulling up from literally anywhere, guarded or not, and couldn’t miss a shot.

      At the end of the day, though, both guys have proven that they don’t always look at the big picture when they make some of their decisions, and neither has shown much consistency in the NBA game. That being what it is, I suppose I give a slight edge to J.R. Smith.

11. Chris

    Hi Joel. What’s your take on D-Wade’s “played off hatred” statement? People hate the Heat b/c they were ostentatious (before playing a single game), dumped their old teams on natl TV, and represent the growing inequality in the NBA.

    • Joel Brigham

      I think the Miami HEAT most absolutely played off hatred, but not at first. Early in the season I don’t think LeBron or Bosh really fully understood the level of villainy they had bestowed upon themselves. I mean, they understood that they were going to get booed in Toronto and Cleveland, but I don’t think they really had any idea that people would hate their guts that much everywhere they went. Wade, I’m sure, saw it coming, and I would also bet almost anything that he was the one who convinced the rest of the team to embrace the hate instead of letting it get to them. But that said, there were times early in the season where LeBron especially seemed to struggle with being the bad guy. He’d never really been that before, and now he’s solidified his role.

      Honestly, there’s no going back anyway, so why not roll with fan animosity and just be the team everybody hates? It’s certainly better than apathy, right? People are still watching the HEAT. They care about what happens to them, even if that care is derived in secret wishes for self-destruction. As a player, I’d take strong fan reaction over zero fan reaction ten times out of ten.

      Plus, it helps that those guys are so friggin’ good on top of it. They’ll compete for a championship for each of the next five seasons as long as Wade or James don’t end up seriously hurt.

12. Mark

    Hi Joel.

    What do you think the Raptors do in regards to the amnesty and possibly the “stretch”?

    • Joel Brigham

      I think you probably use amnesty of Jose Calderon. Jerryd Bayless is the point guard I’d rather move forward with if I’m that particular franchise, which makes Calderon one of the most expensive backups in the league. It’s not that I think he’s bad as a player, just that Toronto could spend their money better elsewhere. Cutting the $20 million he’s still owed for cap space purposes would be a big help for them.

13. James M

    What do u see Orlando doing with the roster if stretch and amnesty Is allowed . Can they grab a star to keep Howard n town and if so who

    • Joel Brigham

      Well, I think it obviously starts with using the amnesty provision on Gilbert Arenas, who’s got one of the two or three worst contracts in the league. He’s not living up to anywhere near what his contract suggests he should be doing, and with Dwight on the precipice, leaning towards jumping off the Orlando cliff into the Los Angeles abyss, I think you have to let that money go so you can find a way to bring in someone more likely to keep Howard in place.

      Of course, even by cutting Arenas you aren’t putting yourself in a situation to seriously pursue major free agents unless they’re willing to come play in Florida for cheap with the hopes of winning a championship. I think that’s a realistic scenario, but I’d venture to guess that those high-profile free agents okay with a paycut will probably look more towards Miami than the Magic Kingdom.

      As I’ve said all along, the future is not rosy for Orlando. They’re in a bad spot financially, even with cuts made (Arenas and possible Hedo with the stretch clause), and I don’t see them being able to assemble a championship-caliber team fast enough to convince Dwight to stay put. He could find situations in L.A. or Chicago pay him just as much, offer more in intangibles and extracurriculars, and give him an even better shot at a title. If I’m Howard, I just don’t see why I’d stay.

14. likeabull

    Jrich is old we need some one to grow with rose. who is our 2 guard. we need a 2 guard. we cant defense a team to death.
    do we over value our players?

    • Joel Brigham

      Boozer is “old,” too, and the Bulls aren’t trying to build a gradual contender here. They’re ready to win now, as in the next two or three years, and there’s a sense around this organization that that’s the window they’ve got with this current unit. As long as D-Rose is alive and healthy you can always rebuild new contenders, but this group has a shot at it right now if they get a legit shooting guard, and I’d almost insist that it be a veteran. Someone like Richardson, Jamal Crawford, or Richard Hamilton would be perfect for this group. Any of them could sign three-year deals and give the Bulls 2-3 chances to seriously compete for a ring. Forget “growing;” let’s win NOW.

15. likeabull

    brewer for dudley who says no?

    • Joel Brigham

      Bulls. They value Ronnie Brewer a little more highly than that, and I think I do, too.

16. likeabull

    who says no boozer/asik for gortat/warrick/dudley

    • Joel Brigham

      Bulls. They value both Boozer and Asik quite a bit, while they don’t have particularly strong feels like Warrick or Dudley. Gortat’s a good ball player, but why send away to assets to get a guy who plays the same position as one of your best players? What about Joakim?

17. B-Man

    what are the chances that someone would outbid the nets for humphries and would they pay him more than 5 mil a year deal after having only 1 consistent productive season?

    • Joel Brigham

      That depends on a lot of factors. In the old NBA, I’d say that if Kris Humphries didn’t get at least $8-10 million a season, I’d be surprised, but in the new NBA there are going to be tougher decisions to be made over players like him. Whatever the midlevel exception ends up being, that’s what I think he’s worth. So yeah, $5 million is a solid numbers. But that doesn’t mean some team hungry for size won’t overpay him. You hope that sort of thing won’t happen anymore, but it will. Just wait. It will.

      The other thing to consider is the number of players that get chopped with the amnesty provision. That could change the landscape of free agency, and what we previously thought was a pretty set group of players will start looking quite a bit different. And bigger. More players to spread around means less money for each to earn, and that could hurt Humphries. He’s one of the more intriguing free agents out there, but I don’t see him getting the sort of payday that someone like Marc Gasol or even Carl Landry will get.

18. B-Man

    am i the only non-bucks homer here that feel like milwaukee has a very good roster mixed with the right combination of main guys and role players and they can compete for homecout advantage in the east?

    • Joel Brigham

      I’m a non-Bucks homer and I that if we were picking the Bucks to win the Central last season, we have to at least consider that they’ll be very competitive this coming season, especially if Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut can stay healthy all season. Their consolidation of Corey Maggette and John Salmons into Stephen Jackson was a great move for everybody’s sake, and I think they’ve got a deep team and a solid starting lineup that will compete with just about anybody the league can throw at them. I’m with you, I think this team will be one of the most improved in the league next season.

19. Alex

    With the amnesty clause looking more favorable everyday, so if a player is cut than they can sign with any other team? And for example a player such as Rashard Lewis who is stil in his prime would not take the minimum salary. So players will be making more money off the amnesty?

    • Joel Brigham

      They can sign with any team they want other than the one that just cut them, yup. Lewis would receive every dollar he was owed, it just wouldn’t count against Washington’s cap. And yes, if he thought he could still sign a deal for $5-6 million a year, he could absolutely do that and make even MORE money per year than he was making before the new CBA. That is pretty crazy, though I don’t think we’ll see a whole lot of that. Amnestied players will probably look for the best situation considering they’re going to be paid by their old team anyway. Even the minimum could be over a million bucks extra per season. Might as well get the slight raise and play where you want to, right?

20. sump

    Using the amnesty on Calderone makes the most sense. Why on earth would HW publish an amensty artictle that says to Amnesty Barbosa’s Expiring contracts? Not hating, i’m just curious. I agree with your choice of Calderone and giving bayless the keys to the car.

    • Joel Brigham

      I didn’t write the article. Calderon makes the most sense. Maybe Linas Kleiza if you want to think smaller. But cutting an already-expiring contract seems kind of pointless, especially in a shortened season that’s saving you money on payroll, anyway.

21. Marc

    With the Nets set to use the amnesty on Outlaw and Petro they can do a lot with 25 million. Who would be your first target? Do you believe that Marc Gasol would be the best fit in Jersey?

    • Joel Brigham

      Not if they’re going to keep Brook Lopez. Don’t see much need for Gasol if that’s the case. They were going to have some cap space anyway, and adding a little more wiggle room means it’s not impossible for them to add Jammy Crawford and David West. Those two plus Lopez and D-Will actually gives this team a pretty formidable starting lineup. I don’t think they win a title with that group, but that’s definitely a playoff team for the next 3-4 years, right?