NBA Chat With Mark Nugent 11/30/11

Join HOOPSWORLD’s Newsline Editor Mark Nugent for his weekly chat this Wednesday at 6pm EST.  Mark is based out of Chicago and covers all things NBA so get your comments and questions in early.

  1. FRANKGIFFORDFAN

    Can the Knicks just go over the soft cap
    of 58 million and sign free agents Chris Paul and/or D12 if they pay the luxury tax?

    • Mark Nugent

      Hello everyone. Please remember to follow me on twitter @MarkNugentNBA.

      No. if you are under the Salary cap, you can offer only the money you have under the cap to a free agent. Once you hit the salary cap then you can only offer exceptions, like the mid-level. If the Knicks cannot land Howard or Paul via trade this season, it appears the only way they will be able to land either player is if Howard or Paul takes less money to play for the Knicks. The Knicks don’t appear to have enough cap space to offer a free agent a full Max contract. Remember, Anthony and Stoudemire are both maxed out.

  2. Johnny

    Hey Mark. I read a lot of rumors about players wanting to sign here and there but I never hear anything about Chicago. You have any ideas why?……O yea. Have you heard any rumors about what the Bulls may do to upgrade their roster.

    • Mark Nugent

      Most rumors come from New York or Los Angeles, that’s just the way it is when those are the two biggest cities in the states.
      You also don’t hear much about Chicago right now because they don’t have any cap room and the Nets and Knicks do as do the Clippers. The only way another star will head to the Lakers is if they can force their way to the team, because they are capped out for a while.

      As for the Bulls, I’ve heard very little in the way of trades. I’ve heard they love Brandon Roy and hope he gets amnestied. It’s unlikely he would slip through the waiver process, but you never know. I’ve also seen rumors that Caron Butler and Jason Richardson are on the Bulls radar.

      If the Bulls had more than the MLE to offer free agents you would hear more about them, but they don’t.

  3. Chris

    Hi Mark. Why is it that Chicago gets no love from the top free agents? The Bulls have the assets to make a trade for a star player, the MVP, the COY, a championship calibre team, and they play in a major market. Yet, Chicago had to settle for table scraps last summer & no one is talking about Dwight wanting to play here.

    • Mark Nugent

      Chicago is a great city, I’ve lived here almost my entire life. However, it is bitterly cold in the winter and scorching hot in the summer. Plus, it certainly isn’t as big as NYC. Chicago is often the team players talk about after they get past the great weather of LA and Miami and the NBA’s biggest market in NYC.

      Keep in mind with players, winning isn’t always the most important thing. Some players want to win, but they want to win in the city of their choosing playing with guys they already know and like. Plus there is a rumor that some free agents don’t want to come to Chicago because they don’t want to have to try and live up to the Jordan legacy. With Rose abroad, you would think guys would want to play in Chicago, but time will tell on that.

  4. john

    hi mark,
    B.Roy had some bad injurys but can he play now or is he still injured??
    and IF the blazers take the amnesty on him would he be a good choice for chicago???

    • Mark Nugent

      The last report I read was Roy said he was completely healthy or at least as healthy as he can be with those knees. If the Blazers Amnesty him he would be a great fit in Chicago, even if he was only at 75% for the rest of his career. He can still shoot the open shot, he can create, just not as often as he used to be able to, and I imagine he would be willing to take a backseat to Rose. Unfortunately, with the way the new amnesty waiver rules work, there is very little chance the Bulls will be able to land any player that is amnestied.

  5. John

    Hey Mr. Nugent just a coupple of questions #1 do you thing Rajon Rondo would be a good fit for the lakers #2 do you know any thing on Trey Johnson i know hes back from italy because of injurys do you think/know if hes back for good and could resign with the lakers?

    • Mark Nugent

      Rondo would be a good fit for the Lakers, he’s young, athletic, can lead a team, a good defender. The problem is he can’t shoot, at least not yet. Kobe and the bigs need someone who can shoot threes to help spread the floor, but he does everything else well enough that they could make it work. Keep in mind, there is almost no chance that the Celtics and Lakers would make a deal when both are competing for a championship. There is way too much bad blood. Also, most likely the only way Rondo is traded is if it brings them back an upgrade at PG.

      Sorry, I haven’t heard anything on Johnson.

  6. Maurice

    Are the rumors true about Caron Butler & Joel Pryzbilla wanting to sign with Milwaukee Bucks and how many games will they lose

    • Mark Nugent

      I haven’t heard the Butler rumor. He is most likely looking for his last payday, so expect him to sign with whatever team offers him the most money. He is coming off a major injury and is already in his early 30s. This is his last shot at a big contract.

      Joel P has been rumored to be heading to the Bucks since the season ended. He started his career there, apparently liked it, and is considering returning. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he signs there for the vets minimum or something close to that.

  7. Maurice

    Will Tobias Harris some sort of an impact this season if he can get on the court

    • Mark Nugent

      He’ll have an impact if he gets on the court, sure. Not sure it will be good or bad though. With no summer league and no camps yet, it’s hard to tell how rookies will fit in.

  8. Alec

    Hey Mark, so the C’s and Pacers are talking trades revolving around Rondo. That better net us back something great in return! Rondo and Big Baby for Collison,George,and Hibbert and a 2012 first rounder sounds okay to me.

    • Mark Nugent

      Rondo isn’t going anywhere unless it brings them back a true star. They started talking to the Pacers as a third team to get involved with a Chris Paul trade, rumor has it. The Hornets are rumored to not be interested in Rondo, but are willing to make a three team trade. That’s all rumors. I wouldn’t worry about the C’s trading Rondo quite yet. The only chance is if Ainge thinks trading him will help the Celtics chance at a title this year.

    • Mark Nugent

      Don’t worry about Rondo being traded unless Ainge thinks it will improve their chance at a title this year. The C’s, I believe will be pushing all in this year. They won’t trade Rondo for the future, they are in win this year mode, in my opinion.

  9. Matt (UK)

    What rumours have you heard coming out of Denver? Will Nene re-sign and who are they looking to bring in?

    • Mark Nugent

      The latest rumor I’ve seen is that Nene wants to move on. Now that could be posturing in order for the Nuggets to offer him a max contract. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Nene signs somewhere else, unless the Nuggets max him out. I don’t think too many teams would be willing to do that (and shouldn’t in my opinion), so if the Nuggets make that offer, I think he stays.

      I haven’t heard anything about the Nuggets other than they want to keep Afflalo and likely will match any reasonable offer for him.

  10. Dong of Dayton

    Hello Mark,
    The Kings have a ton of cap space, should they pursue any of the free agents this year? If so, who?

    • Mark Nugent

      The Kings would be wise to save their money in my opinion. I would wait another year and see what you have in Jimmer, Tyreke, and Cousins. they’ll have to spend some money in order to get to the league minimum salary, but I would stick to one or two year deals, and I wouldn’t go after any of the big guys like Chandler or Nene. I’d like them to be in the lottery one more year, get another high pick, and then see where they are.

      I just don’t see a difference maker for the kings in this year’s free agent crop.

  11. Ron j

    Please tell me the bulls aren’t going into the season with the same set of shooting guards if that’s the case we will lose to miami and ill be p”d reinsdorf has been pocketing money for years its time to spend and go into the luxury tax like all the other big market teams do

    • Mark Nugent

      Sorry, but I believe the Bulls will start the season with Ronnie Brewer (who I love by the way) as their starting 2 guard. I think they will make a run at Caron Butler and Jason Richardson, but ultimately I think both players will receive bigger offers from their current teams and stay put. I don’t think they pursue any of the other free agents very hard.

      I don’t think they can get an amnestied player, so their best shot is via trade.

      I do believe they will look into trades, but I believe teams want either Taj Gibson or Omer Asik, and I don’t believe the Bulls will part with either of those players. I think the Bulls are willing to move Brewer/Korver/the non-guaranteed contracts of Pargo, Bogans, and Lucas/and the Charlotte future first rounder pick for a SG. If that doesn’t net them an upgrade like OJ Mayo then I don’t think they make a deal.

      Basically, I don’t think they make a deal and they start with the exact team they have right now. I’m hoping for Jason Richardson, I think he’d be a perfect fit, and I hope he signs for the full MLE!

  12. B-Man

    with all the rondo rumours floating around, is it possible that celtics will take a deal centered around him and jermaine oneal for chris kaman, mo williams and that pick of minny?

    • Mark Nugent

      The Clippers are very unlikely to trade that Minny pick unless it is for a true star, like Chris Paul or Dwight Howard. That pick is likely to be in the top five in an absolutely loaded draft! Picks like that don’t get traded very often and I don’t think Rondo is enough, the Clippers have their sights set on Howard.

      If I was the Clippers I wouldn’t trade that pick unless it netted me Howard or Paul that’s for sure.

  13. Dylan

    With all the flurry of wild Trade Speculations going on this week, Where do you think D. Howard and C. Paul end up?

    • Mark Nugent

      I think Paul stays in New Orleans until the NBA sells the team. How would it look if the NBA traded Paul to the Knicks after all of the small market owners begged for competitive balance? Not good in my opinion. I don’t think there is any chance Paul gets traded to the Knicks or Lakers or Clippers unless a new owner comes in. Ultimately, I think Paul ends up a Knick. He wants to play there and as long as he is willing to take a little less than the max, he can sign with the Knicks next summer, which I think he will.

      As for Howard, I think he starts the year in Orlando. The Magic struggle early, 1. because they won’t be very good, and 2. because of all the trade speculation. I think he then gets traded to either the Nets if he forces his way there, or the Lakers for Andrew Bynum. Neither is a great deal, but it’s better than losing him for nothing.

      As for me, I’d keep Howard all year unless I got a great trade for him. I’d trade him to the Clippers for a package involving Gordon, Jordan and the Minny Pick. That I’d do right now because I believe Howard walks in the offseason.

  14. Dylan

    Have you heard of any rumors about the Lakers making a push for D. Howard? A few months ago Howard to LAL was a hot topic but now it seems other teams are involved now.

    • Mark Nugent

      Every team is going to be involved until Howard puts a stop to this and either signs an extension or comes out and demands a trade somewhere.

      The Lakers will definitely be in the hunt, they will offer pretty much anything on the roster outside of Bryant for Howard, I believe.

  15. Ryan

    The Magic are gonna get raped in any trade for Howard, so they better off holding on this year right?

    • Mark Nugent

      I’d probably hold onto him. I’d want the other team to take Hedo’s contract and bring back some real talent. the only obvious partner to me, is the LA Clippers. They could get a good deal for Howard from the Clippers.

  16. Dylan

    So when does the free agency period and trade deadline

    • Mark Nugent

      FA begins on Dec. 9, but teams are allowed to talk to players representatives right now. I think the trade deadline is still up in the air.

  17. John

    Do you think lakers should go after Marc Gasol he would be a good back up to Bynum and could probably get him for 3-5million right?

    • Mark Nugent

      Marc Gasol is likely going to ask for about 10 million a season. the latest rumor I read said he wanted about 9, but I think that goes up as we get closer to the season. I believe it’s possible a team with cap space may make him a big offer just to see if the Grizzlies will match it. I could see someone offering him 10-12 million for four years no problem. He’s young and getting better. I’d rather have him than Chandler because of his age and offensive skills and Chandler is likely to command 10 million a season.

  18. Chad

    Which is the trade that you like & which is the trade that works better for both teams?

    Celtics get Devin Harris, Al Jefferson(back), & Jeremy Evans

    Jazz get Rondo, Jeff Green, Kristic

    or

    Celtics get Mo Williams, Kaman, Eric Bledsoe, & Aminu

    Clippers get Rondo, Jeff Green, Kristic (, & Delonte West?)

    • Mark Nugent

      That trade with the Clippers is terrible. It makes them worse this year and doesn’t help them in the future either.

      The Jazz trade is pretty good, but I don’t think I would do that either. I want a star for Rondo and none of those players are stars.

  19. Hammer

    With a such a short free agency period do you think teams will be unwilling to sign restricted free agents to an offer sheet? Can a team afford to be left hanging for 3 days with the risk of being matched and left behind in the mad free agency rush?

    • Mark Nugent

      I think the major free agents sign first, then teams will look at the restricted guys.

  20. rodney

    with the clippers saying there willing to give anything outside of griffin dont u think that the magic should call there bluff? a trade of dwight and hedo for deandre jordan, aminu, gordon,kaman gomes, and the wolfs pic would be a steal would it not?

    • Mark Nugent

      YES IT WOULD!!! I would do that right now.

  21. Ron j

    Im hearing all these possible destinations for dwight with brooklyne being the best to team with d will is it true he has 0 desire to play in chicago because I believe a drose and dhoward tandem is better than the nets and I believe the bulls have better pieces to offer

    • Mark Nugent

      I don’t know what his thought are about Chicago, but I do know Howard hasn’t publicly spoken about wanting to play in Chicago. The only way the Bulls will trade for Howard is if he’s willing to sign an extension, and as of right now that doesn’t appear to the be the case.

  22. Mike Clay

    Hey Mark,

    My question is whether Carlos Boozer has any trade value around the league? He’s too injury prone to count on during the regular season, and I believe he’s the weakest link on the bulls squad, ignoring the obvious hole at the shooting guard spot… Thanks

    • Mark Nugent

      Nope, I don’t think he has any trade value. His contract is too big and he was really bad in the playoffs.

      The Bulls aren’t interested in moving him at the moment anyway.

  23. paul in chicago

    In his Chat Larry Coon said that even if Blazers were to amnesty Roy the Bulls couldn’t offer him the MLE why is that?
    Who would you rather have? Josh Howard or Mayo? Can Jimmy butler play the 2 guard spot or is he a three?

    • Mark Nugent

      If amnestied Roy will go on waivers and teams over the cap can’t bid on him. Teams under the cap can, and most likely someone will.

      I love OJ Mayo and would love to see him in a Bulls uni, unfortunately I think he would cost too much for the Bulls to bring in.

      I think Butler is a 3, but time will tell.

  24. like a bull

    Is it possible to sign Mc Grady at vets min and get rip with MLE.

    • Mark Nugent

      By all accounts, McGrady would love to play for the Bulls and would sign quickly for the vets minimum. It’s also very unlikely the Bulls are interested. They could have signed him last year, but passed. This season he was rumored to lead a revolt against the Detroit coach. Does that sound like someone the Bulls would sign?

      As for Richard Hamilton, if he gets amnestied, he will likely get picked up by a team for a few million a season or if he clears waivers the Bulls could sign him for the vets minimum. They won’t need to use anywhere near the full MLE to get him.

  25. like a bull

    with these unguarunteed contracts could that be used to help pursue a FA

    • Mark Nugent

      No, but it could be used to help in a trade. Those are very valuable because they can be traded and the team that acquired them can just waive the players without having to pay them.

  26. like a bull

    Will Jimmy Butler surprise people on how well he could score? What is jimmy ceiling?

    • Mark Nugent

      Maybe, but it’s unlikely he sees more than garbage minutes this year. The Bulls are fighting for a championship and it’s doubtful the 30th pick in the draft is going to crack the rotation.

  27. like a bull

    Every site I see Bulls are reaching out to the wrong players. Josh Howard? Roy wont be there if blazers use amnesty clause on him.

    • Mark Nugent

      Roy won’t be there, I believe that.

      Josh Howard would be as a minimum contract, so I think that’s a good plan. See what he’s got and you can cut him essentially at any time. I did see one rumor they reached out to Caron Butler, and I like that. I’m still all in on Jason Richardson.

  28. Edmond

    CP3 or Rondo for the Clips??? Which do you think is more obtainable with the pieces they’ve got to give, you know, not named Griffin, Gordon, or Jordan? I wanna see them get Rondo, then sign an amnestied Rashard Lewis. That’s a playoff squad fo sho!

    • Mark Nugent

      They won’t land either of them if they aren’t willing to give up Gordon or Jordan plus the Minny pick. If I’m the Clippers I wouldn’t trade Gordon or Griffin, but I’d be willing to give up Jordan to land Paul. Not sure Rondo is really the answer for them, they need a PG who can shoot because of the double teams that Griffin will see and the penetration that Gordon is capable of.

      The latest rumor has the Clippers interested in Howard over a PG though.

  29. monty

    If Dwight Howard got traded to the Clippers, wouldnt that basically cause other dominoes (Chris Paul & Deron Williams) to fall? The knicks main competitor for Paul would be out of it (although i do believe the Lakers will make a strong push for Paul if Howard is traded first) and the Nets would have to make major moves quickly in order for them to keep Williams.

    • Mark Nugent

      Once one of those three signs an extension, then things might fall into place. However, the only player I think is likely to sign an extension is if Paul is traded to the Knicks, and I just don’t see that happening.

  30. ryan

    any news on what the cavs plan on doing with jamison baron or andy? and will they look to use the TPE that they are reportedly getting an extension on??

    • Mark Nugent

      Baron has been the subject of Amnesty rumors, and I believe that is possible. Jamison is in the last year of his contract, so he will be trade bait as an expiring deal throughout the season. I haven’t heard anything on Varejao yet, because he’s been injured. Once he can get back on the court then I believe they may look to move him, but more likely they use him as the vet to help the young guys.

      The Cavs are always looking to add talent, so if they can use the TPE to their advantage I believe they will, but I haven’t seen any rumors about them using it yet.

  31. adam

    What are the chances of the raps going after rudy gay? They could offer barbosa and next years number 1 pick/ the draft right for valucinous. They could then amensity calderone, sign arron brooks and go after chandler or nene.

    • Mark Nugent

      By all accounts the Grizzlies are not interested in trading Gay. They like him and think he was the missing piece to beating the Thunder in last year’s playoffs. In my opinion, if the Grizzlies trade anyone it will be one of their younger perimeter guys, most likely OJ Mayo.

  32. Dominic

    What do you think of these D12 to the Nets rumors? Dwight and Deron would be quite the combo.

    • Mark Nugent

      I don’t think the Magic will trade Howard until the trade deadline and there is no way the Nets can offer the best package. The only way he ends up being traded there is if he forces his way there saying he won’t sign an extension anywhere else. It’s possible, but I believe he enters free agency no matter where he is traded. Because of that, I think he stays with the Magic for the whole season then walks in the summer.

      Dwight and Williams would be an awesome combo!

  33. Steve

    Man, I thought preventing more Big Threes was part of what the CBA problem was about. If Paul can end up in New York where Max Melo and Max Stat sit, then the new system isn’t any better for small market teams, in that regard, no?

    • Mark Nugent

      Right now, the system isn’t any better for small market teams. In two years when the tougher luxury tax penalties kick in, then it will be a little better for small markets. It’s always going to be an issue for small market teams to keep their stars. Tim Duncan is the exception not the rule.

  34. Hudsen

    If Chris Paul signs with the Knicks in the off season and receives the most money the Knicks can give him, how will the Knicks fill out the rest of the roster if at that point they would most likely only have the three stars under contract?

    • Mark Nugent

      It would be league minimum contracts, similar to what the HEAT did last year.

  35. jay from the uk

    Dwight will stay @ Orlando & recruit CP3 Or D Will!! What you say!? gooooo magic all the way from England!

    • Mark Nugent

      the Magic have zero money to pay those guys. I don’t see any chance of that happening.

  36. Pj

    If Dwill does not sign ext for the year. And the Nets do not bring any talent to the team will they trade him?? And what teams could he be traded to? LA?? DAllas maybe??

    • Mark Nugent

      all they could do is a sign and trade at that point. they won’t trade Williams this season.