NBA Chat With Joel Brigham, 12/6/12

1. Brad

   I hear that the Lakers want Ryan Anderson from the Hornets, which makes sense for them. But what would it take from the Lakers to get the Hornets interested in that type of deal?

   • Joel Brigham

     Good afternoon, HOOPSWORLD Citizens, and welcome to another edition of my weekly chat. I’m still reeling from fantastic season finales for Sons of Anarchy and Boardwalk Empire, but those aren’t basketball things, so I won’t spend too much time going on and on about my television obsessions. Hoops has been pretty darn good early this year, too, so I’m ready to do some basketball chatting on this fine December afternoon. Here we go!

     Of course the Lakers want Ryan Anderson. What team in the league wouldn’t want a guy who can score like that from deep? I was not among those that believed Anderson would be able to keep up his production without Dwight Howard to help him spread the floor, but like a lot of people, I was completely wrong about that. He’s been fantastic (especially as a fantasy asset), so if the Hornets/Pelicans were really going to make a move on him, it’d have to be for something awesome. And what, pray tell, do the Lakers have that is awesome? Well, they’re not trading Nash or Kobe or Dwight, and I can’t think of a single reason why New Orleans would want Pau Gasol rather than Anderson. All that said, what deal makes sense? No deal. Which is why no deal is likely to happen…

2. LA in LA

   If you could ignore the salary cap rules, what two All-NBA teammates would you pick to give Derrick Rose and why?

   • Joel Brigham

     I’d give him LeBron James and James Harden. Let that trio go to town, eh? Maybe Serge Ibaka would be fun rather than Harden for defensive purposes, but not if you already have Noah, I guess. I’d take Tim Duncan this year, too.

     Stop having me dream! Only ask Derrick questions once he’s actually back on the floor. I can’t tell you how much I miss watching that guy play; live Bulls games just aren’t the same without the guy that makes you say, “Holy cow!” at least once a game.

3. Sweet Dee

   Yahoo Basketball Fantasy League claims Steve Nash likely won’t be dealt by the Lakers per an agreement the team made when they signed Steve Nash as a free agent. The reports says Nash signed with the Lakers on the condition the team wouldn’t trade Gasol. Questions: Is this true? And do you think a gentleman’s agreement made between Kupchak and Nash could stop a deal from happening?

   • Joel Brigham

     I don’t know anything about that, but even if there was a gentleman’s agreement it won’t matter much because it’s not (and couldn’t be) on paper. What if Gasol got seriously hurt and wasn’t going to play all year, but there was a team willing to take on his money as a long-term asset in exchange for usable guys? That sounds like a shaky reason to think Gasol won’t get traded. Personally, I think it makes a lot more sense that they wouldn’t trade him until Nash is actually healthy and the hole core has had some real time to mesh. They’re going to want to see what they’ve got before they disassemble the best on-paper starting lineup any of us have ever seen. If he stays put (and he will, for now), that’s a more likely reason why.

4. mandon

   hey joel hope all is well ur awesome question do you think when its all said and done dwight howard will be known for being a bill russell type center with defence and rebounding instead of and unstoppable offensive force like hakeem especially if he doesnt work on his post moves thanks for your time

   • Joel Brigham

     Dwight Howard will never be Bill Russell. Dwight Howard won’t be 10% of Bill Russell until he wins a championship, and even then this guy isn’t anywhere near the competitor Russell is. Honestly, it’s insulting to Bill to put those guys in the same sentence. But yeah, you’re right that Howard is more of a defensive center than an offensive one, and I suppose Russell was the same basic kind of player. Totally different guys in every other conceivable way, though.

     And yes, i r awesome! Thanks!

5. Nathaniel

   I have constantly heard that Shaq never had a killer mentality like Kobe or MJ. He had over 28000 points in his career, he won an MVP award, and he won 4 titles. He is also considered by some as the most dominant force in NBA history. So my question is that if Shaq had kobe’s or Mj’s mentality, how much better would he have been? Would he be the greatest player ever? Thanks.

   • Joel Brigham

     Or Bill Russell’s mentality, for that matter, right? You’re absolutely right, though. Things always came easy for Shaq because he’d always been the biggest guy on the floor. When you’re that physically dominant, you have no choice but to be fantastic. And you really can’t deny the fact that he has those rings. On some level, you can’t put him on par with some of the other unmotivated stars in the league because he does have those four championships. Still, if he was really, truly hungry, it could’ve been an entirely different story. Wilt Chamberlain only had 2 rings, you know? Russell had 11. Both guys were talented (Wilt far and away more so), but Russell had the hunger. It very obviously does make a difference. And would’ve with Shaq, too.

6. tinolang manok

   Whats the word on dfish and kaman? Last time i saw them was kaman was jawing dfish in a clippz LAL game n kaman was saying he will wait for him in the parking lot and now they are teamates.. i hope all good,and whats up with mayo and collison?? Is because teams are scouting them now?

   • Joel Brigham

     There comes a time when you bury old hatchets, and for Fisher I think the precise time he busted out the shovel was when an NBA team offered him a contract. That’s reason enough to get over old grudges, right?

     As for Collison and Mayo, I think what we’re seeing is just a longer sample. They’ve both shown flashes of brilliance at different points in their careers, but neither guy has done it with any real consistency. Looks to me like that’s the problem more than anyone keeping an eye on them. Though it is always easier to perform well when nobody’s watching, I guess.

7. yoichi kato

   Can Dwight and Pau co-exist in the paint? Bynum and Gasol did it together last few seasons but it was mroe of slower pace with Mike Brown and Triagle with Phil. Will D’Antoni and Nash find a way to use both at max level or will Mitch end up trading Pau to find a peace that fit next to Dwight better? Whyu not play Gasol or Hill @ 5 in crunch time and use Jamison @ 4?

   • Joel Brigham

     All reasonable questions for which I don’t necessarily have an answer, other than to say that those two guys absolutely should be able to coexist in the paint, particularly if Howard becomes the kind of guy who really just focuses on defense. Gasol is in a funk, too, which isn’t helping, so I don’t know if it’s a matter of those two guys not getting along or just the chemistry of things not really hitting their groove yet. I know it’s easy to jump on with the frantic L.A. fans and quit on this team, but I’m just not there yet. I need more time to see how this all pans out.

8. dan

   Hi, is it time to high-sell Anderson Verjao?
   what level of player to except in return?
   (for example received an offer of big Al jefferson? have more pressing need for PG -who?)

   • Joel Brigham

     Looks like we’re talking about fantasy sports, not the Cavaliers (who, by the way, should also be selling high on Varejao, but we’ll see about that).

     In terms of fantasy, I think Varejao is a guy you can afford to hold onto because there just aren’t any players out there in Cleveland that can put up stats. It’s got to be him, which is why I’d keep him. He’s having a good year anyway, but the opportunity is making things even sweeter. Al Jefferson wouldn’t be a bad swap, honestly, but if what you need is a point guard, look around and see what’s out there. It’s all going depend on what categories you need help with. Look at what PG’s do things best, what categories you can afford to lose Andy’s stats in, and make some offers. See where it goes.

9. jaimeson

   at what point do cavs move t zeller into startin role? t thompson is just too raw. potential? yes, but it’s painful to watch. not that zeller is the savior, thompson is just a dunker & not even a good rebounder… & don’t even get me going on his FT’s. might have worst FT shot in the league? also, zeller is finishing games lately over tristan.

   • Joel Brigham

     I’m not opposed to it, but keep in mind that Thompson was the guy they brought in to supplement Kyrie Irving, so they’re still hoping he’s an All-Star (or at least near All-Star) long-term. I don’t personally buy that, but when the Cavs are as bad as they are, what’s the harm in getting as much experience as you can for one of the kids who’s supposed to be the future? Those kinds of guys need confidence, too, and I just don’t see Zeller’s relatively low ceiling outweighing the potential benefits of keeping TT where he is.

     And yes, those free throws are, just… ugh…

10. Paul

    So who gets into the Allstar game Noah or Varejao. Varejao has better stats except for the blocks but the Bulls are the better team. I think both of them should get in but only one will since Tyson Chandler has a sick field goal percentage right now. Wchich one do you think gets the nod? In your opinion who are the six best centers in the league in order?

    • Joel Brigham

      My friends and I have been debating this one for a couple weeks now, and everybody seems to think it’s a one-or-the-other situation. There’s a very real scenario in which both guys make the team, but you’re right that Noah’s team has the better record and that tends to be the tie-breaker when coaches vote on the guys who make the All-Star reserves. Still, Varejao is having a ridiculous season and his scoring and rebounding numbers are better. Noah’s the better defender.

      For comparison, here you go:

      Joakim: 13ppg, 10.1rpg, 4.2apg, 2.2bpg, 1.4spg, 46% FG, 78% FT

      Varejao: 15ppg, 15.4rpg, 3.2apg, 1.6spg, 0.4bpg, 50% FG, 77% FT

      I mean, flip a coin, right?

11. RapsFan2

    Toronto and Minnesota reportedly interested in Gasol. Minny reportedly offering Williams and Pekovic in a possible deal plus filler (likely Ridnour, Lee, pick). LAL not interested in what the Wolves are offering. What about this: Calderon/Barngani to Lakers; Williams/Pek/Ridnour to Toronto; Gasol/Johnson-Odom to Minnesota? What do you think? Makes sense to me. Or does Bargnani really have negative equity around the league?

    • Joel Brigham

      My problem with this is that the Lakers don’t have the need for a point guard that they used to. I mean, short term they’d be able to use Calderon while their ailing point guards healed, but is that enough to justify letting go a player as good as Gasol? Bargnani sure isn’t enough of a sweetener to make me want to bite on it. Makes sense for the other two teams, though! Honestly, not a bad idea for a three-team trade, but it’s asking for a lot to happen just to get done. Feels like too much to me.

12. Clayton in Portland

    Will Gerald Henderson regain his starting role in Charlotte? How do you think Avery Bradley and Iman Shumpert will fit back into their respective, guard-filled rotations?

    • Joel Brigham

      I’m not seeing it, but that doesn’t mean he won’t get close to his old minutes. Jeff Taylor has been really good, though, and Ben Gordon will always have those nights where he’s hot and ends up playing well over 30 minutes. so that’s all going to cause problems for Henderson’s PT, but let’s be honest, he never was going to be a star, anyway. He’s a better role player, and should do a solid job playing as such when he comes back.

13. Patrick

    Hey Joel, I just traded away jameer nelson for omer asik. My other PGs are Rondo and Tony Parker. What do you think of the swap?

    • Joel Brigham

      The other guy got fleeced. I’ve got Nelson on my team and he’s been putrid. Asik is among the league leaders in rebounds. Nelson is among the league-leaders in nothing significant. Well-done.

      That’s my hour, folks! Thanks for all the great questions, and hopefully I’ll see you back here in a week for more of the same. Have a great weekend, and go Bulls!