NBA Chat With Mark Nugent 10/26/11

Join HOOPSWORLD’s Newsline Editor Mark Nugent for his weekly chat this Wednesday at 5pm EST.  Mark is based out of Chicago and covers all things NBA so get your comments and questions in early.

  1. Carlos A

    What’s you’re thoughts about this trade

    Bulls trade asik + deng and charlotte pick

    Grizzlies mayo and gay

    Noah
    Boozer
    Gay
    Mayo
    Rose
    Championships!!!!

    • Mark Nugent

      Not sure why you would want Gay for Mayo. He makes more money, and while he is a better scorer, I’ll take Deng on Defense and the boards. I think if the Bulls are willing to trade Asik they could probably get Mayo straight up. I’m not sure I’d do that, I’d certainly consider it, but I’m very hesitant to trade Asik or Gibson for a SG. I would rather trade the Charlotte pick or try and sign one using whatever is left of the MLE.

  2. Cain

    What can we expect from George Hill in Pacers Uniform? Is he going to fill role like Jason Terry or start like Monta Ellis in GSW?

    • Mark Nugent

      I think he is going to be a super-sub. I think he has a real shot at sixth man of the year. I see him playing close to 30 minutes a night off the bench as both a PG and SG and I see him averaging close to 15 and 4 assists. That’s pretty good.

  3. Carlos A

    If there is a amnesty clause and the bulls use its on boozer won’t they be under the cap and be able too signed howard if he becomes ay free agent!
    If it was to happen you think he would signed with the bulls!?

    • Mark Nugent

      Under no circumstance do I see the Bulls using the amnesty clause on Boozer. They like Boozer and believe he is a big part of this upcoming season and their future.

      The Bulls would be under the cap if the Amnestied Boozer and could be way under the cap after this season if they don’t bring back Korver and Brewer. The issue is, if they don’t bring back Boozer they most likely won’t be a true contender this season, so why do that for a chance at Howard, when you are already one of the top 2-3 teams in the league.

      Lastly, Howard is unlikely to sign with the Bulls. He wants a big market and L.A. and New York seem to fit that bill the best. Most rumors have him ending up with the Lakers somehow or with D-Will in Brooklyn.

  4. Giovanni Antonini

    How do you view Dan Gilbert as owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers? I’ve always been a fan of his and his “letter to Lebron” but lately he’s been getting some negative press during the lockout negotiations, Do you think i should be worried about Dan and the Cavs?

    • Mark Nugent

      I thought his ‘letter’ to Lebron was terrible. It sounded like a spoiled rich kid brat how was acting out of anger and wasn’t thinking thru what he was saying. I wish he would have calmed down and taken a day to write the letter, and then he might have come off better. He had a chance to really make a good point, and I think he blew it.

      As for normally, he’s the type of owner I would love to have. He is willing to spend and is passionate about his team. I am a little worried about the rumors he is leading the small market teams into making this lockout last as long as possible in order for them to get the deal they want. I would like all the owners to be willing to make sacrifices in order to get a deal done. But that’s just me.

  5. Dave

    Drew Gooden, B. Jennings for Mike Miller, U. Haslem, Joel Anthony, rights to Norris Cole. Who says no?

    • Mark Nugent

      The Bucks. They aren’t trading Jennings for junk.

  6. Johnny

    Hey Mark, My question is, Even though there’s a lockout going on, do you think the GMs are busy doing back door trade scenarios so when & if the season starts they wont have to scramble trying to do deals in a short time frame?

    • Mark Nugent

      I definitely think, and hope, the GMs and executives around the league are talking all the time. I think teams are trying to do everything they can to be prepared once the lockout is lifted. That’s my hope. So John Paxson and Gar Forman, please prove me right.

  7. Cain

    What do you think Ty Lawson is capable next season? (whenever that is) Can Afflalo become a better scorer? 17-18ppg maybe

    • Mark Nugent

      I think Lawson is a good PG, I think he has a chance to average 15 and 7 assists. Those are big numbers.

      I don’t think Afflalo will be much more than a spot up shooter and finisher. I don’t think he has the ability to be a main offensive force. I see him more of a Bruce Bowen type player.

  8. Antonette

    Among all the shooting guards that they could possibly pull in, who do you think will Chicago acquire? Why and how?

    • Mark Nugent

      I see them going hard after Jason Richardson with the mid-level exception. I believe some version of the MLE will survive and I think they will offer the entire thing to Richardson. I’m not sure he will say yes, it depends on if he gets any significantly bigger offers. If the Bulls can only offer him 15 million, but the Magic offer him 30, he probably stays in Orlando. But if the contract offers are close, I think he will choose Chicago because they are contenders.

      If they miss out on him, I think they look to trade for Courtney Lee or OJ Mayo. And they will have to give up either Asik, Gibson, and/or the Charlotte future first rounder.

  9. Shawn

    Josh Smith & Kirk Hinrich to the Lakers for Bynum and Blake. Smith can take Ron Ron’s minutes at the three and play some at the 4 (allowing them to amnesty Artest). Lakers also improve at point guard. Hawks get a true center so Horford can go to the 4. Blake backs up Teague. A win-win?

    • Mark Nugent

      Lakers aren’t trading Bynum. They love him.

  10. erik

    Who would you rather have at the 4 position on your best team of all time out of these 3 options. Olajuwon, Bill Russell, or Tim Duncan.

    • Mark Nugent

      At the PF, I would take Duncan. At the center I would take Russell first, the Hakeem, then Duncan.

  11. Ryan

    What kind of crap can the Magic get for Dwight Howard? because I know he’s leaving town.Don’t say Andrew Bynum because might well say Greg Oden they’re the same player.

  12. Sensei Of Soul - Chicago

    Hi Mark,can you please rank the following trade scenarios both in terms of likelihood, and how much it would help the Bulls fill their need at SG? 1) Bogans, Pargo, and Lucas (all non guaranteed) to NJ for A.Morrow. 2) CHI sends the same group out to PHI for E.Turner. 3) Same group again going to LAC for R.Foye. I figure with a restrictive cap, some team would bite at the salary savings, and CHI would not have to give up too much.

    • Mark Nugent

      I would never trade for Randy Foye, and he isn’t a SG. He’s a PG. I would love Evan Turner, but that’s not going to happen. The 76ers are big fans of Turner and it’s unlikely they will trade him any time soon. I could see the Nets trading Morrow, but I think they would have to do it for more than cap space.

  13. Cain

    What would be reasonable expectations for Ben Gordon this season? Will Lawrence Frank get him more shot attempts so he can get back to that 20ppg again?

    • Mark Nugent

      His days of scoring 20 ppg are probably over. He is most likely going to be coming off the bench the rest of his career, so I think a 15ppg average would be pretty good. I think Gordon will play more minutes than last year, but don’t expect him to return to his Bulls days, he’ll never have that kind of freedom again.

  14. john

    I know u must play fantasy nba…..5 fantasy sleepers and 5 busts?

    • Mark Nugent

      Actually, I don’t. I would love to play, but I can never get enough of my buddies to take it seriously. Several of my best friends are diehard NBA guys, but most are baseball and football fans. It’s very sad.

      I love John Wall this year, Ty Lawson, I think Kaman could be a good value, same with Rashard Lewis, and whoever starts at the 2 guard for the Pistons, whether it’s Stuckey or Gordon.

      I never draft the old guys. Jermaine O’Neal, KG, etc…

  15. john

    who should start at pf for toronto and who should they draft next yr

    • Mark Nugent

      Ed Davis and Andre Bargnani should start for the Raptors. PF/C, it doesn’t matter, they should both be in the starting lineup.

      Next year it will all depend on where they draft. The perfect fit for their team though, would be Harrison Barnes. Unless James Johnson blows up this season, they are in desperate need of a starting SF. And I think Barnes will be an all-star in a few years.

  16. paul in chicago

    Who do you think ends up being Chicago’s shooting guard

    • Mark Nugent

      I answered this earlier, but I’ll say again. I believe Jason Richardson is the most likely to be the starting SG.

  17. James

    I hear that the owners and players are “inching” closer to a deal. I think this is largely to do with the owners dropping a 50/50 BRI split as a pre-condition. Do you think they can come to a deal today, or within the next couple of days?

    • Mark Nugent

      No, I don’t. I think there is very little chance a deal gets done anytime soon. Anytime there are reports of optimism or both sides getting closer to a deal, it blows up and we all leave disappointed. I won’t be optimistic until a deal is actually reached. Until then I expect the season to start either in January, February, or not at all.

  18. Mark

    Hi Mark, how would the nba decide the draft selection if there isn’t a season next year? Who do you see going number 1 overall pick? Who does Andre Drummond reminds you of?

    • Mark Nugent

      Hopefully it won’t come to that, but if there is no season, than I believe the NBA will do a lottery with every team. They may weight the lottery, but I think every team will have a shot at the top pick.

      I see it being between Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond with Harrison Barnes going third.

      I haven’t seen Drummond play yet, but once the NCAA season starts I will be watching a lot of college hoops this season, so ask me again in December.

  19. frank

    Is Amir Johnson in the Raptors long term plans?

    • Mark Nugent

      Hard to tell. I would say he is in their current plans, meaning this year and next year, but once Jonas comes over and depending on what they get in this year’s upcoming draft Amir could be the man out. If they land Andre Drummond of Anthony Davis they won’t need Johnson.

  20. Ruben

    How are you today Mark?In my opinion the players haven’t felt the resesion as their salaries still go up every season,while the owners have.I personaly don’t wnat the NBA to be like the MLB.Where do you stand on this point?

    • Mark Nugent

      I actually don’t care. I just want the season to start.

  21. Eric

    Bold question: with the premeire soon to be free agents being rumored on the block eg. Howard, Paul, deron etc. How come the Raptors never get mentioned?

    We have some assets eg Bargnani, Calderon, Ed davis, Amir and our 2012 draft picks. Why are we never in the mix?

    • Mark Nugent

      Mainly because the top free agents all want to go play in the sun or in a huge market like New York, or both. Sadly Toronto doesn’t fit into either of those wants. What it comes down to is no one is going to trade half their team for Howard or Paul just to watch him sign with another team a year later. Why trade Davis or Bargs to have Howard for one year and then watch him go elsewhere. That is why the Raptors are never involved in these talks.

  22. Mario

    Who do you think that the Clippers will trade Chris Kaman for?

    • Mark Nugent

      Not sure. The early off-season rumors were Iguodala or Ellis, but I don’t see either of those happening. Honestly, I kind of see them holding onto him for the year and letting his contract expire. The Clippers really need a SF, so if AI or another starting caliber SF becomes available I could see them getting involved in those talks, but they have a history of not making trades.

  23. Lance

    If the Players accepting a 50/50 split, you think they would keep that 10 years down the line or do they risk going down a slipper slope?

    • Mark Nugent

      I find it hard to believe the players will ever go below 50/50, even down the road. If they accept a 50/50 split right now, I would guess it’s because they get almost everything they want in the system negotiations. If they agree to 50/50 and the league has great revenue over the next 6-10 years, I would expect their percentage to go up, not down. If the economy really tanks, then it’s possible they could take less than 50%, but I doubt it.

  24. Jason

    Did the raptors lose money last year? They haven’t been in luxury tax for a while and they have a decent TV deal on national canadian netowrks so i would think they at least broke even. Do you know if they were one of the 8 teams to make money?

    • Mark Nugent

      I’m not 100% sure, but I would assume so. I know the Knicks, Bulls, Clippers, Lakers, HEAT all made money. Not sure about the other ones.

  25. Ryan

    I’ve been watching all the youtube videos avaliable of demar derozen this summer….he doesn’t seem as explosive and he isn’t putting up huge numbers in exhibition games…even though video clips can only show so much…do you think we toronto fans are setting too many high expectations for demar? What do you think he will become in the league?

    • Mark Nugent

      I think DeRozan will be a very good starting SG for the next 5-10 years. I don’t think he will be a superstar or all-star, but I think he will be very solid. If you are expecting him to be an all-star then you are likely to be very disappointed for the next few years.

  26. Mark

    hey mark would you ever consider being a coach?

    • Mark Nugent

      I did, I have, and I always will. But I doubt I have the time to do it any more. I think that train sailed. I do think I’d be a good high school coach.

  27. Jason

    While the lockout is going on…some guys just look like they havew improved so much…notably Kevin Durant and Brandon Jennings….how much can we read into their summer exhibition stats and youtube clips…durant just looks like he has reached another level and brandon seems like he has improved greatly…how likely is it that it transfers over when the lockout ends?

    • Mark Nugent

      I don’t think we can read into any of the exhibition stuff. There is no defense at all.

  28. Mike

    Above you said that if there is no season the nba will most likely have a draft lottery with all 30 teams…it seems unfair to me that miami or lakers could get andre drummond….isn’t better to take the average records of the past 3 seasons for all teams and put them in that order…that way is will still allow the majority of poor teams ie. sacramento, toronto, minnesota a better shot at #1…it will hurt cleveland most because of their records with lebron but it still is the best option for the consensus of bad teams don’t you think?

    • Mark Nugent

      My guess is they will potentially take the past two or three seasons and then weight the lottery according to whatever those records are. Do the Clippers and T-Wolves will have a better shot at the top spot then the Lakers, but the Lakers will still have a chance at it. It’s impossible to predict how this season will go, so I believe it is unfair to just go by last year’s records and I believe the NBA feels the same way. The Bulls are one Derrick Rose injury away from possibly missing the playoffs. Imagine if Dirk went down. It’s unfair to just assume the same teams from last year will be good this year, so I think all teams need a shot if there is no season.

      Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that though.

  29. Mark

    what kind of offensive and defensive schemes do you have in mind? Are you planning to run the triangle?

    • Mark Nugent

      Triangle wouldn’t work unless you were coaching in the NBA. I would run a pretty standard motion offense but I would push the tempo constantly. Also, I would press if was in high school. Basketball is supposed to be fun, so getting up and down the court would be one of my primary points. Also, I like a lot of movement away from the ball on offense. So I’d run lots of back picks and cross picks to get guys open jumpers and into the paint.