NBA Chat With Joel Brigham, 12/15/2011

1. San

   So, what is going to happen we with Dwight Howard?

   • Joel Brigham

     Good afternoon, HOOPSWORLD Citizens, and welcome to another edition of my weekly chat! I think it’s safe to say that more has happened over the course of the last seven days than in the previous 6 months combined, and I’m including Dallas winning the championship in that window, too. What a wild, wild week it’s been since the last chat, so you know we’re going to have plenty (PLENTY) to talk about this afternoon. Plus, preseason games start tomorrow, so I’m giddy. So let’s do this, shall we?

     Immediately, I don’t expect anything to happen with Dwight Howard. Steve Kyler and Alex Kennedy, two of our most plugged in guys here at Hoopsworld, both based out of Orlando, have heard for the last week that the team still really feels like it can keep Dwight in Orlando. They’re hoping for a surprisingly good season and possibly a hail Mary trade that brings in some help for the big guy. Neither of those things are likely to happen, as least as far as I can see, but there’s still time for a miracle. Besides, I don’t think the offers for Howard are going to get much worse between now and the March 1 trade deadline. If anything, they’ll get better. Gerald Wallace, Brook Lopez, and draft picks doesn’t seem like a big enough haul for the best center in the game. I’m optimistic something better is out there.

     Long term, what happens with Dwight is entirely up to him, but I’d be a little surprised if he was still in Florida at the start of the 2012-2013 season. I have this weird gut feeling about him in a Mavericks uniform. I suppose we’ll see.

2. GarPax

   I bow to you, you had RIP the whole time. Where does this rank Bulls as Favs? Miami didnt improve, Lakers w/o D12 done, Bos gave up too much in “Baby”, NYK Chandler only plays in contract yr

   • Joel Brigham

     No need to bow, but I will say that I’m glad my favorite team went out and got the guy I was hoping for. Mark Nugent really, really disagrees with me that he’s the right guy. He’d rather have Jamal Crawford (which would’ve been fine) or J.R. Smith (barf… and he’s in China anyway), but I just feel like Rip is better for this team right now. He doesn’t put the ball on the floor very often, so he’s not taking the ball out of Derrick’s hands, but he’s a heck of a shooter and that means Rose’s comments about his assist numbers going up this year are probably right. Hamilton plays defense, too, and has championship experience (I’m pretty sure he’s the only guy in that locker room with a ring). He wants to work hard and get this chip. I’m just hoping he’s got enough legs left to be even 80% of the player he was in the mid-aughts. We’ll see, but I’m optimistic.

     As for where this places the Bulls in the whole scheme of things, they were already up there with Miami as Eastern Conference favorites, and I don’t think that’s changed. Chicago is better than the Lakers or Boston at this point, and I’m not sure how to feel about the Knicks yet. They’re probably pretty good, but Chicago still matches up well. I mean, who guards Derrick?

     And Miami absolutely did get better. Shane Battier is a huge deal. The last thing we needed was one of the game’s best perimeter defenders freeing up LeBron to lock down Rose. Blech, I shudder at the thought. I’m taking Miami to come out of the East again, but I think a ECF rematch against the Bulls is also the most likely scenario.

3. ed

   any word on Thabeets developement…how does Mchale feel about him

   • Joel Brigham

     “Thabeet’s Development” is like saying “Carlos Boozer’s defense” or “Santa Claus’s social security number.” None of those things exist.

4. paul in chicago

   Man I hope this draft produces some new stars because most of these guys just have no heart and don’t believe in themselves. Except for a couple of them of course. All time best draft my a__

   • Joel Brigham

     I assume you’re talking about 2003. Yeah, a lot of those guys are reliving the AAU years right now, aren’t they? Melo, Bron, D-Wade, and Bosh are all living it up in buddy systems. That’s why Rose is so awesome. He refuses to recruit other superstars to come play with him. You’d think he would’ve called up Dwight Howard by now to get him in Chicago, yet for some reason (and I’m still interested in finding out what this reason is), the Bulls aren’t on D12′s preferred team’s list. The fact that this hasn’t changed means Derrick hasn’t been doing any persuading. He wouldn’t do it for LeBron or Wade, either. He just wants to play basketball and kick everybody’s rear end. I love that about him.

     Anyway, the 2012 draft is going to produce some excellent talent, but I have no idea what the heart of these kids is. Honestly, you look at some of the top guys–Anthony Davis and Mike Gilchrist, for example–who already are doing the buddy thing by teaming up with Marquis Teague at Kentucky. UK ended up with 3 of the top 25 recruits on the same team. That’s basically like the Miami HEAT of the NCAA. So we’ll see. The AAU generation has changed everything, and guys want to play together. I get it, but I’d rather see everybody with pride enough to want to run their own team and whoop everyone else on their own merits. That’s Jordan/Bird/Russell stuff right there, and that’s what makes legends.

5. Mutang

   Soooo, the Clippers grab Chauncey Billups. I mean he’s good, solid vet, but old now, and is there a real difference at this point than Mo Williams? Who’s probably even a better defender AND on that team, a better lob-thrower??? Whats the deal there??

   • Joel Brigham

     It’s Chauncey Billups for like $2 million a year. Apparently a lot of teams made waiver claims on him for the same reason. Looking for low-budget depth at point guard, and he’s a notoriously good one, even as he gets older and slows down a bit. Plus, that gave LAC leverage with New Orleans to not have to give away all five of their top trade assets. Instead, they gave away only 4 of the 5 and got two second round draft picks out of it. Without Billups, I’m not sure the Clippers end up with Chris Paul. Shrewd move by them, honestly.

6. Jay

   Sup Joel…Big time Bulls fan!! Aside from Hamilton, who else have u heard or feel we need to pick up thts available? And who can fill the void tht Kurt left us wit?…..P.S. can Paul and Howard get signed already so the rest of the FAs can start getn signed!!

   • Joel Brigham

     I don’t think Chicago is going to do too much more with major rotation guys. This is a deep frontcourt already with Taj Gibson, Boozer, Omer Asik and Joakim Noah. Not sure they need a Kurt Thomas type of guy at this point. Too much talent for the minutes allowed already. Besides, they used the full MLE on Hamilton so that only leaves the opportunity to sign minimum guys. Take a look at the players who might fit that bill, and you’ll see your choices for rounding this roster out. Otherwise, you’re two deep pretty much everywhere already, so I think they’re good to go.

7. Chris G

   Why do the big names seem to avoid Chicago? In 2001 Duncan, Hill, and McGrady passed when they had cap space. Last year Lebron, Wade,and Bosh said no thanks when they had cap space. Dwight doesn’t have the Bulls on his short list to be traded to. Even when Jordan was here, it’s not like superstars came to play with him. Is it the cold weather? The Krause legacy? High expectations? Fear of hard work and practices? Any insights?

   • Joel Brigham

     I’ve been asking the same question for a few days and haven’t really been able to find any answers. 2001 was different because the Bulls were absolutely garbage at that point. Duncan had a much better situation set up in San Antonio, which is why he stuck around, and Orlando has the weather and the no state income tax, and Hill and McGrady thought teaming up there would be a good idea for those and probably more reasons. No hate there.

     But I’ll never get why the 2010 free agents didn’t take Chicago more seriously. What happened was those three had their sights set on playing all three together, and that could only have happened in Miami. If Chicago could’ve provided a landing spot for all three, maybe they would’ve had the same chance. If Miami doesn’t have that crazy cap space, something else might have happened. I don’t think that was anything against Chicago necessarily, just what was good about Miami. Again, Florida. Again, no state income tax.

     As for Dwight, who is from Florida, I don’t get it. Makes no sense to me why Chicago wouldn’t be on his list, even if he didn’t truly believe he’d ever end up there. New Jersey is, but Chicago isn’t? Has he seen Derrick Rose play? Does he know what kind of coach Tom Thibodeau is? I’ll need someone to explain that to me, because I’m at a loss.

8. Chris

   With the Pacers missing out on Mayo (again) and seemingly out of the running for J. Crawford, do you see the Pacers going after any other SGs? It seems they could use someone who can create their own shot…

   • Joel Brigham

     I don’t know who else is left… I really thought they’d end up with one or the other, but Indy’s out of the running for Crawford (I think he’ll end up in Portland, the closest team to his home in Seattle who just so happens to need some help at shooting guard. There’d be no shots for him in Sacramento. I digress). I’m sure Indiana will consider some of the guys who are left out there, but the pickins is slim. Afflalo is still out there, but I’d be stunned if Denver let him walk. You can wait on J.R. Smith or Wilson Chandler, but that doesn’t help you for much of the regular season. Otherwise, you’re looking at CDR, DeShawn Stevenson, and Nick Young, the latter of which is likely to re-up in Washington.

     If I’m running the team, I go for some inexpensive depth at this point, maybe take a gamble on Mike Redd, and just know that a backcourt with Darren Collison, Paul George, and George Hill is still pretty good. If Redd gives you something (and I love Redd, so I hope he’s got something left), all the better. David West was a great signing for Indy. Top priority, and they got him. That and the Hill trade already makes them better. Can’t wait to watch some Pacers basketball this season. I even bought a Pacers shirt. Having covered them for a few years now to supplement my Bulls coverage, I’ve slowly become a fan. Favorite non-Bulls team now. Officially.

9. Chris G

   So, with Bynum suspended and no Odom, the Bulls should be favored over the Lakers on their Christmas Day opener, right?

   • Joel Brigham

     Forgot about Bynum’s suspension. I was going to pick the Bulls, anyway, but yeah that definitely helps sway me even further. It instills more confidence in the pick I was going to make anyhow.

10. jay

    hey joel,,whats going on??jamal crawford says he doesnt want to join the Indiana Pacers..the Pacers were interested and has a pretty solid team..why do you think he doesnt want to join them??hes a perfect fit right????

    • Joel Brigham

      Just like I said Rip was the best guy for Chicago for like a year, I’ve been saying the same thing about Jamal Crawford and D-West in Indiana. It looks like the money being put out there by Sacramento and Portland is pretty similar to what Indiana is offering, but Indy’s official offer was pretty short-term. Crawford’s going to want a little more security since this is likely his last significant contract. All he’s trying to do is get that last payday and find a situation in which he can win games. That’s why I think Portland is the answer for him this year. Without Roy, they need the depth at 2, and he’d be closer to home. As good a fit as Indiana is, Portland is at least just as good, and probably will offer more years.

11. Bjørn Simen Samdal

    With Chris Paul going to LA and Clippers sending out Eric Gordon, there definitely is going to be a gap at the 2. Do you think the Clips will address that need before the seas starts and who do you think they will go after?

    • Joel Brigham

      You can play Billups or Mo Williams at the two and get away with it. Plenty of guys on the roster can score, and if Chicago could win 62 games last year with Keith Bogans starting at two, I’m pretty sure the Clippers will be fine with Billups or Mo.

12. johncarloyu

    do you see the lakers offering pau for love, beasley, ridnour?

    • Joel Brigham

      Seems like a bad trade for Minnesota, so sure, I could see LA offering that. I could also see them getting turned down.

13. devonte

    whats taking denver soo long to re-sign arron affalo, are other teams in the running to sign him?

    • Joel Brigham

      I think they wanted to get Nene locked down, which they just recently did, and Afflalo would be their second order of business. I also wouldn’t be surprised if they sort of let the market dictate his value before throwing crazy money out there and bidding against themselves. If Jamal Crawford is having this much trouble finding gainful employment, I can’t imagine it would be much easier for a restricted free agent playing the same position. Let him sign an offer sheet, then match it. Or, like I said, now that Nene is locked up they’re out there working on it right now. Either way, Afflalo will end up in Denver next season.

      But man, he’d be great in Indiana…

14. Brendan

    Would the Magic have been better of ‘competing’ with NO for the Clippers trade pieces? They wont get a better deal for Howard than the one NO just got for Paul.

    Where do you see the two NO draft picks landing in the draft, both in top 5 (before lottery)?

    • Joel Brigham

      The Clippers already had matched DeAndre Jordan’s offer sheet before making the push for Paul. They want a long-term point guard because they feel like they’ve already got their long-term center. I’m happy with the way LAC went, but you’re right about the Magic losing their best potential offer for Dwight. They weren’t going to do a whole lot better than what New Orleans just did for Paul. Unless Dwight agrees to extending in Chicago. Bullies could make a solid package for him.

15. CJ

    If a team trades for Dwight and has to take on Hedo’s contract can they then turn around and amnesty him?

    • Joel Brigham

      Nope, can’t amnesty players you traded for after the new CBA was ratified. You’d have to keep him.

16. keo

    As a celtics fan I’m happy that the lakers didn’t get cp3….is it possible that the clippers can also land dwight ..prob offer Blake ?

    • Joel Brigham

      Never happening. Blake could end up being better than Dwight. And again, they like Jordan at center. They’re going to run with what they’ve got and see where it gets them. Vinny Del Negro makes me nervous running that group, but talent can trump even his inexperience as a head coach. I seriously can’t wait to watch LAC this year. Going to be a fun ride.

17. Jaimeson

    heard e.gordon could be moved again. any way CLE can get him? NO needs pf…. varejao(would hate to see him go!) & ?. don’t know $ situation. Cavs haven’t had a real scoring SG since……. d anderson?…. phills?…. g wilkins?…. RONNY HARPER!!!

    • Joel Brigham

      A couple thoughts on this… First, Carl Landry is a power forward and is actually very good. They re-signed him today, so the need for Andy is less than you think. As for Eric Gordon, he’s the absolute sure-fire prize from this trade. If the Hornets don’t extend him or at least match him in restricted free agency in the summer, then the trade was basically for nothing (not counting all that cap space and the likely lottery pick). I’m in the group that thinks Gordon is a top-three shooting guard in the league in about three years. He needs to the cornerstone of that organization, along with whatever stud they end up with from the ’12 draft. I would very much doubt he gets moved again unless the trade is too good to pass up. And I doubt it would be.

18. charliechu

    if Lakers can’t make any other major moves this year and can’t make a splash in the 2012 free agency is it time to blow up the team?

    • Joel Brigham

      I think as long as Kobe is alive and well and still playing NBA basketball, you have to do everything you can to put major talent around him. I’m of the opinion that the Lakers days as perennial powerhouses are just about over, but Kobe is one of the greatest ever and deserves every opportunity to win championships for as long as he’s still in the league. The Lakers have the money to always make that happen, so I never want to see something blown up unless it’s going to return equally impressive talent. It’s a huge reason why I hated the Lamar Odom trade, but that’s a whole other story.

19. Tj

    What next for the bulls keep bogans replace Kurt I think Troy Murphy would be a good replacement stretch 4 plus rebounder and maybe posey or arenas rose only ball handler don’t say Watson he looks scared an o.c dribbling

    • Joel Brigham

      Bogans is likely gone now that Hamilton is under contract. Troy Muprhy at the minimum isn’t impossible, but seems unlikely. I would be shocked if the Chicago Bulls, who place so much value on character and locker room rapport, signed either James Posey or Gilbert Arenas. They’ll come up with another ball handler, I think. Watson isn’t good enough to hold it down if Rose is out for any stretch of time. You need a more traditional point guard for that.

20. Steve

    Are people a little happier at HOOPSWORLD now that the CBA is settled and the action has started?

    • Joel Brigham

      Good lord, you have no idea. It just sucks that we’re all suddenly so busy in what was already the busiest month of the year. We’re smushing the amount of work we usually do in a summer into two weeks of Christmas season. It’s insane, but it’s also really fun. It’s safe to say that Chris Paul and Dwight Howard have done wonders for getting readers back to the site after a pretty significant lull during the lockout. So yes, it’s very, very nice to be back to work. Excited to get back to covering games and interviewing players now.

21. muffinalt

    What do you think of the Cavs in 3 years? I know it depends on how well they will draft and, essentially, on luck, but you gotta love their chances right now. Many expirings, even some veterans to ship out for young talent and picks… their own picks of the future and some rookies/1st year guys on their team.

    Im really hoping TT will silence the critics and Kyrie will shine, not to mention adding 1/2 potential stars next draft

    • Joel Brigham

      There’s very little I love about the Cavs right now. I’m upset they didn’t go with Valanciunas instead of Thompson, and I’m not sold on Irving yet. Another pick next year, especially if it’s Anthony Davis or Harrison Barnes, would perk me up a little. But this team is a long, long way from convincing me to feel good about it again.

22. Steven

    Hey Jb hope all is well, now that the Knicks added Tyson Chandler with a couple more bench players do you think we can contend for top 3 spot in east ? Thanks

    • Joel Brigham

      Absolutely. As I’ve said, I think Miami-Chicago are 1-2 in the East, and few would disagree with me there, but after them I’m taking New York, Boston, and Indiana in some order. Atlanta, Orlando, New Jersey, and Milwaukee are in that next tier.

      Chandler helps the Knicks a ton, and I’m a huge Landry Fields fan. The point guard position worries me, though. Toney Douglas is good and everything, but Mike Bibby isn’t, and neither can hang with the top PG’s in the league. That part makes me nervous, and a healthy Baron Davis 3 months from now wouldn’t do much to change that. But Melo-STAT-Chandler is probably the best three-man frontcourt in the league right now. Hard not to love that.

23. jr from Tdot

    Could Dallas repeat as champ this year?
    raptors make playoff this year or next year.

    • Joel Brigham

      1. It’s possible.

      2. Not a prayer.

24. Nick

    Where do you see the Warriors finishing this year? How do you see their rookies Klay Thompson, Jeremy Tyler, and Charles Jenkins doing this year? ROY for Klay?

    • Joel Brigham

      I’ve got the Warriors pegged for something in the .500 range, finishing about halfway through their division standings, and narrowly missing the playoffs. Every big idea they had for the offseason, they struck out on. I don’t see them as improved at all, and no Kwame Brown doesn’t do anything to change my mind about that. Love Steph Curry, am thoroughly entertained by Monta Ellis, but can’t buy into this as an overly successful team. Not yet, at least.

25. john

    Yeah cuz Jordan didn’t play w/ rodman/pippen/kukoc/kerr/paxson/daugherty (could keep going)… Multiple HOFers on a team is nothing new, the way they end up together is, but then again, y not join forces and extend each others careers?

    • Joel Brigham

      Jordan playing career second-and-third fiddles like Scottie/Rodman/Horace Grant isn’t the same as Jordan finagling a way to play with Magic or Bird or Barkley. And why are you mentioning Kukoc, Kerr, and Paxson like they’re the same thing as LeBron playing with D-Wade and Bosh? Not even close.

      And who is Daugherty?

26. Tasos

    hello from Greece..
    if lakers do these moves,i think they can win the championship

    1)LAL gives Bynum+Gasol to ORL for Howard+Turkoglu+Nelson

    2)Artest for Beasly or Anthony Randolph or Amir Johnson(i think Beasley is the better fit)

    3)Blake for Chris Andersen

    PG:Nelson/Fisher/Morris
    SG:Bryant/Green/Goudelock
    SF:Turkoglu/Barnes/Kapono
    PF:Beasley-Johnson-Randolph/McRoberts
    C:Howard/Andersen

    and sign one veteran big man

    • Joel Brigham

      Hello, Greece! Cool… Okay, your question:

      1. If it was that easy, that trade would be done. it’s not, and I doubt Howard is moved for at least a couple months.
      2. Minny’s not making that trade. They love Anthony Randolph and are not trading him alone for Artest. Beasley either.
      3. Don’t see why Denver would be all that interested in this, either.

      Sounds to me like you’re a Lakers fan doing some serious hoping. Realistically, though, very little (if any) of that is likely to happen.

27. B-Man

    as a fellow pacer fan, would you accept an offer by the warriors of ellis for only paul george?

    • Joel Brigham

      I would, but I don’t think that’s something Golden State is putting out there. They’d want a lot more star power back for Monta than Paul George, as good as he probably will be in a couple years. Paul George is easily one of my favorite young players in the league, but that’s a trade Indy would have to make in a blink if it was ever offered. I doubt, however, that it ever will be.

      Thanks for all the great questions again this week, gang! We’ll be back here next Thursday for more of the same, with actual basketball to talk about, too! Have a great weekend, and get the rest of that Christmas shopping down.

      Oh, and go Bulls!