NBA Chat With Joel Brigham, 1/3/13

Join Joel Brigham this Thursday at 1:00pm ET to participate in his first NBA chat of the new year. We’ll cover trade rumors, fantasy hoops, down-the-road draft picks, and everything in between.  Get your questions in early, and be back here Thursday to take part in all the fun!

  1. Deven

    How embarrassing was that lost to the Bobcats the other for the Bulls.

    • Joel Brigham

      Good afternoon, HOOPSWORLD Citizens, and welcome to another edition of my weekly chat! It’s my first one of the new year, and it’s at a new time, so hopefully the regulars are able to find their way to the computer during the lunch hour to partake in the festivities. I hope everybody had a great holiday season. Mine was actually quite excellent, and man was I ever looking forward to 2013. Last year, I spilled water all over my laptop and had to settle for an older, cruddier one for months. Then Derrick Rose got hurt, and I also lost a fantasy football championship in like the most painful way possible. Also not a great year to be a Bears or White Sox fan, either. By the way, thanks for the memories, A.J. Pierzynski. I hope Texas treats you well.

      Anyway, let’s move onto the questions shall we? We shall. Here goes…

      That was very, very painful to watch. They almost blew another one last night to the Orlando Magic, of all people, so needless to say I don’t have a whole lot of confidence in this team right now. Even when Derrick gets back, I’m not sold they’re much better than a conference semifinalist at best. Last year’s team just felt like a cohesive unit, and this one feels like one of those oranges that starts off pretty delicious but ends up with like 4 or 5 really gross slices. Something’s missing here, and I mean more than D-Rose. You just can’t let the Bobcats snap an 18-game losing streak on you. Painful. So, so painful.

  2. Deven

    Do you think the altitude in Denver is the reason road teams struggle to win at the Pepsi Center or are the Nuggets just that good at home?

    • Joel Brigham

      My sister lives in Boulder and swears it’s legit. She’ll hike in the mountains and delve into an asthma attack within her first hundred yards. And she doesn’t have asthma. So yes, that kind of air takes some getting used to, and you really can get winded. I suppose that does play a role, but part of that has to be attributed to a great Pepsi Center crowd and a team that knows how to win on their homecourt. My guess is that’s a bit of all those things.

  3. LA in LA

    What do you think about this post from your co-worker Ingram: “Does LA need D12, or
    would they be just as good with Gasol starting at center and Jamison at the four? Hard to see how this is a long-term marriage between Dwight and the Lakers, especially at his price tag.”

    I can see his point but I think Lakers have to wait until Howard’s fully healthy and conditioned before evaluating him.

    • Joel Brigham

      You can’t just think about the immediate future here; Dwight is L.A.’s opportunity to stay relevant for half a decade after Kobe finally retires or becomes ineffective. He’s the only “young” star on that team, so if it’s all the same for now as far as rotations go, you keep Dwight so you can rebuild around him once Nash and Kobe and Pau and MWP are no longer in the league. I get what he’s saying about money, but I think you go the other way… dump anybody BUT him. He’s your meal ticket moving forward. He’s how you keep butts in those seats and the Clippers as L.A.’s second team. They let him go, and things look grim in about three years.

  4. LA in LA

    Prediction: Are Bulls more likely to keep their unprotected future first from the Bobcats or use it in a trade to land a superstar?

    • Joel Brigham

      Well, let’s put it this way: if the Bulls are ever going to make a major trade, that draft pick is probably going to have to be included in the deal. That pick, as well as the rights to Nikola Miroticm, are pretty much the only sweeteners the Bulls have right now. I can’t imagine a scenario in which someone says, “Yes, I will happily trade for Carlos Boozer and his ridiculous contract without you throwing in a lottery pick.” I’ll have to revisit the stipulations on that pick, but the way Charlotte is playing, I’m guessing this isn’t the year they end up with the pick. I think it’s unprotected in 2016. Can the ‘Cats stay putrid that long for us? Please?

      My prediction, though, since you asked, is that the Bulls will keep the pick and Mirotic. Gar Forman talks about both things once in a while the way I imagine squirrels would discuss the juciest acorns in their winter cache. Squirrels just aren’t all that interested in sharing their juciest acorns.

  5. Donald

    With the way Roy Hibbert is playing can the Pacers afford to keep him or should they trade him and at his salary and the way he is playing is he tradeable?

    • Joel Brigham

      I think there would be a team interested in giving Hibbert the kind of money and years he’s been given. Hey, Portland was ready to offer it to him, right? Look, he’s had a lot of games in December where he has looked like the All-Star of 2012, but his issue as a pro has always been consistency, and that’s obviously still the problem right now. He just has to do what he does every night. No more goose-eggs, Roy. That kind of crap can’t happen.

      That said, the Pacers are holding onto him. They still love the guy, and I can feel him transforming into a real leader in the locker room. Indy is atop their division with him playing poorly and Granger having been out. They really think they’ve got something special when everybody gets healthy so they can play their absolute best basketball. That’s still to come, for Hibbert and the Pacers.

  6. Brett

    The bulls, even with Rose, are still a big step away from Miami, Oklahoma. Here are some trade scenarios going forward.
    1. Spurs get Deng, Mohammed
    Bulls get Jackson (expire), Leonard, Blair
    2. Boston get Boozer, Mohammed, Charlotte pick + Bulls 1st
    Chicago get Garnett, Terry

    • Joel Brigham

      1. That’s a lot for San Antonio to give up for Luol Deng.
      2. Not a prayer. I can’t think of a reason why Chicago would toss in what will essentially be a lotto pick for two guys way, way down the other side of the hill. No, no, no…

      Although, I would be curious to hear your trade suggestions for Boozer. He’s playing better lately and might almost kind of sorta be moveable. Throw some offers at me that don’t involve Pau Gasol. Let’s see what you come up with.

  7. Brett

    More Bulls trades:
    1. Minnesota get Deng, Humphries, 1st
    Brooklyn get Boozer, Kirilenko
    Chicago get Love, G.Wallace
    2. Utah get Boozer, Deng, Motiejunas
    Houston get A.Jefferson, Rip, Hinrich
    Bulls get M.Williams, G.Haywood, Patterson, Morris, picks and space

    • Joel Brigham

      1. Deng, Boozer, and the Charlotte pick for Kevin Love and Gerald Wallace is not only relatively fair, but something I could actually deal with. Not the greatest deal for Minnesota, but not horrible, either. Might be hard for them to get much more out of Love, but they don’t seem totally ready to move him at this point, so I’m not sold that he’s even on the table. Kirilenko is somebody Minny would be especially wary to trade, I’d think, though that would be a haul for Brooklyn. I like the ideas here. Closer than the other ones.

      2. Barf for the Bulls. Clears cap space, but that’s trading five dimes for two quarters. That’s the opposite direction the Bulls need to be going. Chicago needs more half-dollars and paper money.

  8. Eric

    Dubs gave the Clips a dose of their own medicine. 2nd win over them this year. Dubs are overlooked around the league.

    • Joel Brigham

      Yeah, I looked at the overall records of those two teams while watching the highlights on Sportscenter this morning and realized that they aren’t all that far apart in the standings. I want to say the Warriors are 22-10 and the Clippers are 25-8. So you’re only trailing a team that recently tore off an 18-game winning streak by 2.5 games in the division. That’s pretty impressive.

      David Lee and Steph Curry are having great years, and they’re doing all of this without Andrew Bogut. Very fun team to watch, and they absolutely are exceeding everyone’s preseason expectations of them. Overlooked is an understatement. I don’t see them as championship contenders, but they absolutely could win a playoff series this year, and the Warriors, that alone would be a nice change.

  9. John Johnson

    This Royce White story seems to add a new subplot by the day, do you see him actuall playing basketball anywhere at all this season?(NBDL or NBA)

    • Joel Brigham

      Yeah, I honestly thought the D-League thing would have been a good start. Those guys don’t travel on planes, after all, unless it’s a very special circumstance, so he could’ve gotten some hooping in, stayed in shape, and not had to worry about the thing that causes him the most anxiety. Would’ve made a lot of sense.

      But I get the impression that he wants nothing to do with the Rockets at this point, just because of what he surely considers pretty cold treatment for his mental health condition since being drafted by them. The refusal to report to the D-League team comment seemed to suggest that there wouldn’t be anybody with the new team to help with his anxiety. Every team has a trainer, and he’d prefer his team have someone there full-time for other kinds of health, too. He’s trying to do what’s best for him, and this all makes sense in his head. Easy for us to criticize from the outside, to just say, “Play basketball, man!” but there’s more to it than that for him.

      He’s a decent guy and an animal on the court. I still really hope he gets himself right in time to play a little bit this season. Curious to see how his game will translate to the NBA.

  10. Paul in Chicago

    So do you think Vinny actually became a better coach or is this all thanks to Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups? What did you think of Taj starting center last night?

    • Joel Brigham

      Typing “Vinny Del Negro” and “Western Conference Coach of the Week” in the same sentence is enough to make throw up a little bit in my mouth, but I think it’s impossible to ignore the fact that he’s become a better coach over the course of the last couple years. He’s had his moments to prove that he can hang strategically, but for the most part, you’re right that a lot of what you’re seeing is Chris Paul. That’s why he didn’t pitch a fit in the offseason that Vincent Of the Black was still around; he likes being able to act as the dominant voice on a team. Del Negro allows that, so I think we can essentially consider CP3 an on-court assistant coach.

      Either way, anybody would take 18-2 over a 20-game span. That’s a record-setting pace, so props to Vinny and the Clippers, even though I’d never in a million years want him to coach the Bulls again.

  11. Joel Brigham

    Happy New Years

    What is wrong with the lakers? Is it because of kobe taking most of the shots and not allowing other guys taking shots?

    • Joel Brigham

      Can’t totally blame Kobe here. They’re still figuring out a system and still haven’t had enough time with Steve Nash and Pau Gasol both healthy. They’re figuring things out, but they’re still stacked. I just feel like, assuming everyone stays relatively healthy, the Lakers will still be in the thick of things when it matters. A lot of folks are talking trash about L.A., and that’s justified with the losses they’ve taken this year, but they’re still better than an overwhelming number of Western Conference teams and should have the veteran know-how to figure this thing out.

      And Happy New Years to you, other Joel Brigham.

  12. Darren

    What’s going on with all the no.1 picks since LeBron? Only Blake remained somewhat healthy last year. Bogut, Wall, Rose and Oden haven’t played this season, while Bargnani, Howard, Irving and even Davis have missed large stretches of the season. These guys are meant to be the future of these franchises. Is it just a coincidence or something more serious?

    • Joel Brigham

      We haven’t seen Pervis Ellison or Kent Benson on a court all season, either, which really has to be frustrating the Kings and Bucks, respectively. But you’re right, a lot of those former top picks are hurt, but not LeBron, not Blake, and not Dwight. Tim Duncan was a former #1 picks and he’s having an insanely productive year. Elton Brand is healthy, but sparsely-used. Kwame’s okay too, isn’t he?

      Lot’s of former top guys hurt, but there are a lot of guys hurt in general. Probably just a coincidence, Darren. I don’t suspect any sort of conspiracy here.

  13. Raptor Fan

    From Toronto I ask:
    1) Will anyone take Bargnani?
    2) is it just my imagination or do big Foreign players ( Asik, Bargnani , etc.) get ridiculous calls against them?

    • Joel Brigham

      1. Not right now, no. He makes too much money and hasn’t been healthy enough this year to shop his skills. From what I’ve been told, he’s going to come back late January or early February, then showboat his skills for a couple weeks with the hopes that the Raptors can then find him a new home. He has to go, though. The Bargnani era in T-Dot is ready for its dramatic conclusion . Unfortunately, there’s enough money wrapped up in him that the dramatic conclusion might still be a couple years away.

      2. I think it’s probably you’re imagination. Asik is a flopper, so he’s been on the other end of ridiculous calls. Is Nik Pekovic seeing ridiculous calls? Not so much. Again, probably just a coincidence.

  14. Joe

    Coming into the season I thought the celtics had a very talented roster on paper and great depth. Obviously they could really use a big man but what direction do you see the celtics taking because I can’t see them standing pat while they continue to underperform.

    • Joel Brigham

      Outside of trading Rondo or Pierce, I’m not sure what they can really do. I’ve seen some very creative offers thrown around by fans over the course of the last several months in reference to Rondo, so that’s probably where I’d start with a major change. He’s arguably the best pure point guard in the game today, but there are a lot of flaws in his game and his character, so I think a trade would be absolutely excusable.

      There was that rumored deal for DeMarcus Cousins which would’ve cost them Jeff Green and Courtney Lee, and I’d be fine with that, especially now that Avery Bradley is back. They’ll have to shore up their backcourt rotation now anyway… too many good players and not enough minutes to go around there. Cousins would be a great get, even with his inability to play nice with his coaching staff. That would certainly shake things up, wouldn’t it?

      And that’s it for me this week, gang. Thanks for all the great questions, and I’ll see you back here next week for more of the same! In the meantime, have a great weekend, and go Bulls!