NBA Chat With Joel Brigham, 1/24/13

Join Joel Brigham this Thursday at 1:00pm ET to chat about all things NBA, including the oncoming trade deadline, All-Star selections, and everything else in between.  Get your questions in early, and be back here Thursday afternoon to take part in all the fun.

  1. Buster Bluth

    Heyyy weird brother Hermano.

    Is it just me or is Chandler Parsons ridiculously underrated? He’s the perfect role player a team could ask for. He has no real weakness and plays extremely unselfishly. Do you see him as a definite part of Rockets’ future?

    • Joel Brigham

      Good afternoon, HOOPSWORLD Citizens, and welcome to another edition of my weekly chat! It’s been a ridiculously busy day for me, but I’m ready to take an hour away from all the stresses and pressures of life so that I may speak with you, the good people of the world, about basketball. This is my yoga, folks.

      We’ll get to as many questions as we can, but we’ll start with the person smart enough to hook me with an “Arrested Development” allusion (because tricks are what… oh, nevermind)… Plus, I like Chandler Parsons a ton, so why not, right?

      I remember seeing Parsons at the draft combine a couple of years ago and thinking there was no way he’d end up being much of a pro. At best, I saw him as a Kyle Korver type, and that was sort of how he was being billed at the time. Sharp-shooter. But he’s way, way more than that and has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the season. Nik Vujacic is my favorite surprise, but Parsons right there. As for his future with the Rockets, they’re ridiculously young and seem committed to rebuilding based off of that youth, so I see no reason why Parsons wouldn’t stick around for a while longer. For the next three years, at least, the salary cap looks good. No reason not to hold onto him.

  2. Bob Hawke

    Hi Joel

    II’m an Orlando Magic fan and believe they can do a quick rebuild like the Portland Trailblazers have done in the last couple years. Massive cap space in the offseason and that huge trade exemption of over 18 million. What do you thnk about a JJ Redick trade for Gordon Hayward, a spot clutch shooter for a playoff run for a young athletic player of the future.

    What are your thoughts?

    • Joel Brigham

      For the sake of all Orlando Magic fans out there, I hope the turnaround is quick, too. At the very least, as much as it sucked to lose Dwight for so little this past offseason, you don’t have to deal with that headache, right? Obviously I like Vujacic, but I like Mo Harkless, too, and I think there are a small (VERY small) handful of players on that roster worth holding onto. Beyond that, though, it doesn’t sound like the higher-ups are looking for something fast. They want to be bad for a couple of years, amass some high draft picks, and rebuild the way OKC and Cleveland have done. That, at least as I understand it, is the plan.

      As for your trade suggestion, fine. Redick is having a good year and finally has some trade value, so I’m in favor of cashing out while he’s hot. Love Hayward, but is he a guy that sparks an immediate turnaround there? Doubt it.

  3. Spur

    Tim Duncan should’ve been an All-star starter this year, right? Thanks.

    • Joel Brigham

      The fans vote, so starters don’t matter. As long as he makes the team (and he absolutely, 100% will), I’m content.

      On the bright side, though, the fans really didn’t do too bad a job this year. Most of the guys who were voted in as starters are justified (with the exception of Garnett), and there were no glaring, “What is HE doing in the starting lineup?” selections a la B.J. Armstrong (once) and Vince Carter (way too many times).

  4. T-Mac

    If T-Mac was not plagued by injuries and had he reached his full potential, he could’ve been better than Kobe and Lebron, right?!

    • Joel Brigham

      Sweet, merciful Lord, are you kidding? McGrady, even when healthy, never one a playoff series. In his entire career. Kobe has six rings and LeBron finally got his first of what should be at least two or three. I judge “better” by championships, and Kobe and LeBron are “better” both in that regard, and in regards to talent. Let’s put this silliness to bed, please.

  5. rodney

    hay joel what do you think of this

    tradehttp://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=a5arqar

    magic get Rando,Gay and Randolph
    boston gets JJ Harkless and Ayon with perhaps a few of the laker first round picks from the howard trade
    memphis gets Affalo and big baby

    altho the magic are left with no sg they can use there 4 mil exception to get a sg and have d jones as there backup

    boston altho they lose Rondo(who perhaps could be one of the players that Doc Rivers exploded the other night about) they gain financial (expiring of jj and ayon) flexability and a proven scorer in jj, a player for Paul to mentor in Harkless, and a player for garnett to mentor in Ayon

    memphis rids themself of gay and gives us z randolph for the trade exception aquiring a large exception to use and getting 2 players in Afflalo and big baby to stay competative with better financial fleability

    your thoughts

    • Joel Brigham

      So, a Magic fan, huh?

      This trade is impossible. Insane, ridiculous, and completely impossible. Like, it gives me acid reflux just reading it.

      Let’s start with the Memphis Grizzlies, who see themselves as championship contenders this year and really, really do not want to trade Gay OR Randolph, let alone both, especially for a trade exception and two overpaid Orlando players.

      Boston is supposed to trade their best player and franchise cornerstone for Redick, Harkless, Ayon, and garbage picks?

      Dream on, Rodney. And stop giving me heartburn.

  6. Kyle

    I have a trade with the Bulls and Nuggetts. Bulls trade 2013 first round draft pick, plus maybe another future first round pick, Hamilton, and Teague for Mozgov and Chandler? Butler can be are starting two guard while Chandler is a versatile forward who can play three positions. And we get our big in Mozgov who gets no playing time in Denver. thanks and Go Bulls

    • Joel Brigham

      I don’t really see Jimmy at the two, especially considering how well he’s played at the three with Luol out. I think he could do it if the team needed him to, but that’s not his spot.

      In any event, I don’t really see how that helps Denver all that much, unless they were interested in Teague. My guess is that they can get more out of Wilson Chandler than that.

  7. Cain

    Do you think Paul George will find consistancy on the road? It is just a matter of time and maturity for him to be great at home and away?

    • Joel Brigham

      Yes, 100%. This is only his third year in the league and he’s already doing the things he’s doing, so I think with a little more seasoning he’ll be just fine. This kid has perennial all-star written all over him. One of my favorite guys in that locker room. Easy to root for.

  8. LA in LA

    Hey I know you said you were concerned if Boozers play mightdrop off when Rose returns, but is it possible he can boost his value enough to be traded. For example shouldn’t the Bucks heavily consider an Ilyasova+Dalembert for swap? Or you could swap Dalembert for Gooden. Bucks get a low scoring threat who would be pass out to their shoot happy guards and Bulls get a stretch 4 and back up Center.

    • Joel Brigham

      I’d have to look at how the contracts on something like that would work, but I can’t imagine the Bulls valuing Ilyasova higher than Boozer at this point, especially with the leadership role he’s taken on and what he means to the chemistry of that locker room. If there’s a great trade on the table, I’d consider it, but I don’t think this Bucks idea you’ve thrown out is a great offer.

      At the very least, that’s the thing about the way Boozer has played; people are maybe kinda sorta looking at him as a real NBA asset worth his paycheck. He still makes $15 million a year for two more seasons after this one, at which point he’ll be old, so the consensus is that there aren’t many teams interested in trading for him right now. But at least the “maybe” in this scenario is growing larger. It didn’t exist five months ago.

      On a related note, remember that Boozer for Pau rumor? Who would you rather have at this point? I’m not sure I could answer that right now.

  9. Raps4ever

    Hi Joel, Happy New Year to you. Do you think BC, made a big mistake by extending Bargnani and Derozan to an extention? Personally, I never like both of them, for one reason, No defense and no All-star potential. Lastly, who do you think will be better over-all in the future Valanciunas or Drummond? Thanks.

    • Joel Brigham

      Yes. Yes I do.

      As for J-Val or Drummond, I still think Valanciunas has a higher ceiling. I could see him transforming into a star someday, while I see Drummond as a guy who averages 9 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks for the majority of his career. That’s respectable, obviously, but I think Valanciunas can do better. Now that I’ve said that, though, I’ll probably be proven completely wrong. For your sake and the sake of all other Raptors fans, though, I hope that I’m right!

  10. Rico

    How about this trade: (Lakers Fan Dreaming)

    Lakers Get: Chris Bosh, Andrei Kirilenko, DeMarcus Cousins, John Salmons
    Wolves Get: Pau Gasol
    Heat Get: Dwight Howard
    Kings Get: Nikola Pekovic, 1st Round Pick From Heat

    Lakers get starting PF & C and bench help
    Wolves get Gasol & Rubio connection
    Heat get a legitimate center for defense & rebounding
    Kings get rid of a headache (DC) and cut salary

    • Joel Brigham

      Interesting, but I don’t think Minnesota is giving up Pekovic and Kirilenko just to pair up Gasol (who’s been bad this year) with Rubio (who’s been REALLY bad this year). Pek and AK47 are the only good things going on that team right now. I’ll have to say this one probably wouldn’t work, but I love that you’re thinking big.

  11. Edward Lee

    Will the Lakers offer D12 max contract or does he deserve a max contract after this season’s debacle?

    • Joel Brigham

      Brook Lopez and Roy Hibbert got max contracts last summer.

      I trust that answers your question.

  12. Alex in LA

    So we are on a 3rd coach I think on 3rd season within a season. Thank god Lakers had a team meeting and stressed defense otherwise we would have lost by 30+… Unless we have 5 Jordan Hills and 5 Earl Clarks on the bench I do not see this team even try to defend. This season reminds me of Smush and Kwame era. Kwame had has hands of stone and dwight gets stripped of the ball every other possession. I wish we had Bynum back. Any way my question – is it time to blow it up or do we wait for Feburary 21st trade dead line. Frankly I just dont see this team going anywhere this year. But I think we are still the best on paper.

    • Joel Brigham

      As long as the Lakers remain the best on paper and remain mathematically in the hunt for a playoff spot, I can see them blowing this up. Unless there’s something they can do with Pau that brings in major pieces to shake things up, I just don’t see it. Nash is going nowhere. Kobe is going nowhere. Nobody is trading anything of value for Dwight right now because he could walk this summer in free agency. I think you’re pretty much stuck with what you’ve got, bad as it may be, and hope that things get better.

  13. jhay e

    D12 to Nets
    M.gasol to L.A
    B.lopez to Mempis

    tnx

    • Joel Brigham

      Would be interesting if the Nets wanted Howard. They don’t. They want Lopez, and it looks like that’s the guy they’re going to keep.

  14. Derek

    How’s that crow tasting? I believe I remember u saying MY BULLS would be fighting for a 7 or 8 seed. We currently sit n 4th place only 3 games out of 1st. Now come on Im sure u have something positively negative to say….. Mr. Fairweather Fan.

    • Joel Brigham

      Well, they’re my Bulls, too, and I’m very pleasantly surprised, just like I’m sure you are, too. There’s no way you looked at this year’s team vs. last year’s team and thought to yourself, “Yeah, that’s better,” so let’s not pretend like I was the only one who thought the Bulls would struggle without Derrick.

      Also, I’m not a fairweather fan because I predict the team to finish 7th or 8th in the Conference. I still root for and watch the Bulls and always have. I just had lower expectations for them this year, which were wrong.

      So, all that said, the crow tastes delicious. Like a porterhouse steak.

  15. Derek

    I also remember telling u that THIS BENCH would be better than the bench mob with the only downgrade being Mohammed to Asik and u disagreed, now Im sure ur gonna find some way to disagree now so lets here it. BTW u r the worst writer/analyst on this site but i like reading the dumb things u write

    • Joel Brigham

      Bench is still shallower than it was a year ago. It really is, but I’m glad Jimmy and Nate and Taj are killing it the way they are. This has been a really fun team to watch the last couple of weeks, for sure.

      And I don’t mind being criticized as a writer by someone who just wrote the sentences you wrote. Yikes!

  16. Chris G

    If KG hadn’t been voted a starter to the All-Star game by fans, do you think he would have made the team?

    • Joel Brigham

      There’s no way. He’s just not having the year he had last season, and there are too many other deserving Eastern Conference players on teams with better records. Rondo deserves his spot, and Pierce may have gotten in as a second Celtic, but there’s no way three would’ve gotten in without KG being voted there.

  17. Justin

    When will the next trade happen and do you think that the Jazz will be involed? DO you think Millsap has really been improving his trade value lately?

    • Joel Brigham

      The next trade will be on Friday, February 1st at 2:17pm (Eastern, obviously), and I put the chances of Utah’s involvement at about 3.4% (approximately 1-in-30).

      As for Millsap, I don’t think he has to do much to improve his trade value, because he’s already got a great resume and an extremely affordable expiring contract. His play hasn’t been this year what it was last year, but that’s because of Derrick Favors getting more minutes. In a feature role, he’d be fine, though I’m not getting the impression the Jazz want to do anything major with their froncourt. They seem to enjoy their unbelievable depth there.

  18. Tim

    What eastern conference team can make the best run at the Heat come the postseason? Which team can give them a feisty series like the Pacers and Celtics did last year?

    • Joel Brigham

      I think those two teams are prime candidates again this year, honestly, and I would very much enjoy a series with a healthy Knicks squad. Last year’s first-round matchup between those teams was bad, but I see different things happening in a rematch. The Bulls could be interesting with Derrick Rose back. Beyond that, though, I don’t see there being much of a challenge for the HEAT in the East. I think they represent the conference in the Finals again this season.

  19. Steve

    Are the Raptors interested in Wilson Chandler?

    • Joel Brigham

      Well, they used to be, and they do need help at small forward, but I’m not sure what they have that the Nuggets would want. They had eyes for him when he came back from China, but then Chandler and the Raptors moved on from things when it became evident that Wilson would have to sign with Denver or sit the rest of the year out. That kind of romance might be hard to rekindle, particularly as it pertains to a trade.

  20. Gabriel

    hi joel, greetings from Argentina.
    milsap for patterson, montejunas and a 1st round pick… what do you think? rockets get their upgrade at pf and the jazz get some young talent and a pick and also the chance of favors to start…

    • Joel Brigham

      It would depend on what kind of pick we were looking at, but I see benefits to both sides of this. I’m thinking Utah would want more out of Millsap than that, but a valiant effort. And anyway, like I said, don’t think the Jazz are moving Millsap.

  21. zach

    do you see the magic making a splash at the deadline?they have the largest trade exception in nba history and some good young talented players.what should they be looking for to build upon?

    • Joel Brigham

      I still think they sit on it. Bring in a really good player doesn’t get them back into the playoffs, but it does hurt their lottery chances, and that’s what they need more than anything–good, young prospects to help them rebuild from the ground up. I know Magic fans would love to see them do something splashy with that cashy, but if it were me, I’d rather be as awful as possible and hope for a great pick.

  22. Carlos

    What happens with Jimmy Butler when Deng comes back? Does Deng get fewer minutes to ease his workload, since Jimmy has shown the ability to hold down the spot, or does Jimmy get minutes from somebody else, maybe at shooting guard?

    • Joel Brigham

      Cripes, I hope so. Not only has Butler been great, but Luol has been the league-leader in minutes the last two seasons because the Bulls just didn’t have anyone behind him they could count on. That changes now, and especially now that he’s ailing I think it would be wise to give him more time to rest his weary bones while also giving a clearly talented young kid the opportunity to continue contributing. Your suggestion makes complete sense along those lines, and yes, I could see him finagling some minutes at the two, as well, though I believe backup three is the more likely role for him.

  23. Mr. Ballistik

    Top 5 SGs in the league: Kobe, Wade, Harden, and…

    • Joel Brigham

      …that’s where it stops. I think if we count Paul George as a two, he’s right there. Eric Gordon was supposed to be there, but that obviously hasn’t worked out. O.J. Mayo may be working hi way up the ranks, and let us not forget Joe Johnson. Still, those are your top three, and then it kind of drops off precipitously.

  24. Kyle

    Are you finally starting to believe in the Bulls Bench Mob 2.0

    • Joel Brigham

      I’m getting there. Belinelli with confidence is a guy I like, and I’ve always enjoyed Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler, and Nate Robinson. Eventually, Hinrich will find his way to Mob 2.0, as well, which is a good thing, but I gotta tell you how much happier I was when I never had to see Nazr Muhammad out there. In any event, yes, these guys have been way better than I thought they would, and as an earlier reader pointed out, it’s probably time to admit I was wrong. But let’s just not pretend like I was the only one. We all had our doubts, but the Thibodeau-led Bulls continue to prove that we should never count them out. I totally mis-underestimated them.

      And that’s my “Arrested Development” bookend for you there, folks. I’ve got to wrap it up, but thanks for all the great questions, and I look forward to working with more of the same next Thursday. Have a great weekend (I will… I’m headed to SoxFest with Pops and Hermano), and go Bulls!