NBA Chat With Mark Nugent 12/28/11

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. Thesonoftan

    Mark, it seems as time passes Otis Smith makes a more stupid move than the last. Why is he still a Gm? Is it because our owner is older than Methuselah and believes the moves are so bizarre that they must be brilliant? Howard is leaving and this man is going to rebuild this team? WTF?

    • Mark Nugent

      I believe Smith is tasked with dealing with the Howard situation and if it goes poorly, like I think it will, then he will be fired. I wouldn’t want Smith rebuilding my team, but that doesn’t mean much to the Magic owners I imagine.

  2. Steve

    Hey Mark, if you recall I asked you about your playoff bracket last week, and you told me to ask you next week, and you’d have it for sure. Playoff bracket? Who wins it all? Thanks!

    • Mark Nugent

      Yes I did ask you to wait a week. And so here it is, I made these picks before the xmas day games, and I’m sticking with them.
      East: 1. Bulls 2. HEAT 3. Knicks 4. Celtics 5. Magic 6. Pacers 7. 76ers 8. Hawks
      Then Bulls/Celtics and HEAT/Knicks
      Bulls/HEAT
      HEAT
      West: 1. OKC 2. Dallas 3. Clippers 4. Memphis 5. Portland 6. SPurs 7. Lakers 8. Denver
      OKC/Memphis and Dallas/Clippers
      OKC/Clippers
      OKC

      HEAT win championship over Thunder

  3. Chicago Charles

    I’m saying this again, within a 4 month 66 game schedule, either Noah, Boozer, Asik, or Gibson is bound to be hurt–Chicago needs a fifth big man now–while they are still healthy so he can learn the team routine. Isn’t this obvious?
    Is everybody blind, Boozer is playing like a player who doesn’t want to be hurt–this is not the Boozer we saw playing at Cleveland (we admired that Boozer). Boozer cannot play with Noah because he doesn’t know how to play
    defensively–and Noah seems disappointed when Boozer misses obvious coverage and assignments. Noah is trying to play his position and Boozer’s also. Am I the only one noticing this?

    I think Bulls management is over-confident with the team’s talent–how else can anyone explain why they have coach Scalabrine and Coach Lucas on the team when players are needed in those positions. Are other teams puttig their coaches on the player list? Why is Reinsdorf scared of paying the luxuary tax–is he going
    broke or what? What ever happened to the billion dollars he made on Bull’s uniforms during the !990′s?

    • Mark Nugent

      I agree on Boozer, he cannot be trusted to play the whole season, and even when healthy he is no longer a star. The Bulls are pretty much stuck with Boozer. YOu can’t trade him, and if they amnestied him they wouldn’t be far enough under the cap to sign anyone who would be an upgrade, so they are stuck. The question will be if they amnesty him in a year or two and decide to keep Asik/Gibson instead and then they can bring over Mirotic. This is what I think happens.

      The Bulls are looking for a fifth big man, they just aren’t sure who to pursue and how much they are willing to pay. They only want a guy who will take the minimum. Reinsdorf and most owners won’t pay the luxury tax because it is obviously very costly, but it also makes trades and other roster moves very hard to do.

      The Bulls are one of the top 3-4 teams in the league, not sure how you can be overconfident in your talent when you are that good.

  4. Johnnie

    Why don’t the Lakers get Ramon Sessions? He’s Cheap, Young, and great in penetration which is highly needed for the Lakers. Trade the odom exception and a second round pick.

    • Mark Nugent

      Not sure the Cavs are looking to just dump him yet, but who knows. It’s good to surround Irving with veteran players that can help him learn the NBA. I could see dealing Sessions in the offseason, but unless the Cavs get a pick or something of value for him, it doesn’t make sense to just dump him.

  5. Peter

    First of all I’m not about messing up chemistry but if the opportunity arose to trade Asik and maybe Brewer or Butler for Beasley. Bulls get an Odom like 6th man. He still gets touches runs the 2nd unit and can take the scoring load off rose. Sign em to like a 4 yr 32-36 mil like mike conley contract and then have Mirotic in 2-3 years.

    • Mark Nugent

      The ‘Wolves would drive Beasley to Chicago if we were willing to trade Asik for him. Asik is a borderline starting center in the league who is on his rookie contract. Beasley plays zero defense, makes terrible decisions, and is one dimensional. he’s a terrible rebounder as well. Plus Beasley is going to want to get paid as much as possible and is a restricted free agent next year. That is a terrible deal for the Bulls and the only way I would consider adding Beasley is if the ‘Wolves gave him to us for free. Literally, free. Korver for Beasley is the best I would ever offer.

      Odom plays D, Rebounds, protects the rim, is a team guy, can play 3 positions and never complains. Beasley is the opposite of that.

  6. Shad

    Paul Milsap and Raja Bell for Marcus Thortan and Jason Thompson, who says no?

    • Mark Nugent

      I think the Kings like Thorton a lot, otherwise they wouldn’t have signed him to that deal. So I think the Kings say no.

      I love Milsap though and I would do this trade if I was the Kings.

  7. maestro

    Any truth to the rumor that Lamar Odom’s wife is responsible for the Kobe Bryant divorce and that Kobe secretly wanted Lamar traded after he learned that his wife “mentioned” to Vanessa that he was cheating?

    • Mark Nugent

      I have no idea, but you should check TMZ for that kind of stuff. We here at HOOPSWORLD like to focus on basketball!

  8. jack

    One thing Mark Cuban is not is an idiot. For him to dismantle an NBA champ (and clear cap space), he must have foreknowledge that D Howard and D Williams have an under-the-table agreement to meet up in Dallas next offseason, much like the big three did years before meeting up in Miami. Agree?

    • Mark Nugent

      I think Cuban is a very smart man and so is Donnie Nelson. I believe neither wanted to pay the huge contracts to Barea or Chandler and be stuck with the same team that got a little lucky in winning a championship for the next four years. That team in four years would be terrible. I think Cuban believes the Mavs are a good destination for high profile free agents and pairing them with Dirk for a year or two before he drops off due to age is a good idea and could draw a big name.

      As for an under the table deal, I doubt it, but you never know.

  9. Daniel

    Where do the Blazers finish in the West?

    • Mark Nugent

      I have them 5th, and that seems about right to me. I like the team and if Aldridge makes another jump, they could go even higher.

  10. Daniel

    If you were the Blazers and had to trade one or the other would you trade an older more proven Wallace or the younger solid player with big upside in Batum?

    • Mark Nugent

      I think the Blazers will likely keep them both, but I’m a huge Wallace guy, so I would trade Batum. To this point Batum has been all hype and really hasn’t done much on the court. He’s a nice shooter and decent defender, but Wallace can change the game with his D and can score in bunches.

  11. Daniel

    What is your best guess as to where Dwight Howard will be playing next season?

    • Mark Nugent

      I think he stays in Orlando or heads to the Mavs.

  12. Rodney

    When will John Wall and the Wizards start to gel as a team? Do they need to keep rebuilding, or do they need to add some veterans?

    • Mark Nugent

      They need to clear some of the knuckleheads (in my opinion). I don’t think a team with Nick Young, Andray Blatche, and Javale McGee will be successful. Those three are me first players and make terrible decisions on the floor. I think Blatche and Young should go, and I think the Wizards are doing a disservice by having Wall grow with players that aren’t about winning and team. Again, this is all my opinion, but I watched a lot of the Wizards last year and I just don’t think it can work.

  13. chrissss

    Why don’t we laker fans do something productive instead of obsessing over Dwight Howard trades. if anything let D12 come to us in the offseason. for now ship bynum to Minny for Darko+1st rounder package?

    • Mark Nugent

      Howard can’t come to the Lakers in the offseason because you have no cap room. The Lakers are way over the cap and Howard is unlikely to sacrifice that kind of money to play for the Lakers.

      Really? Bynum for Darko? That’s terrible!

  14. Josh

    But beasley, wes johnson and picks, to philly for AI.

    • Mark Nugent

      If I’m the T-Wolves I’d do that in a heartbeat, but Philly won’t trade AI right now. They like their team and have taken him off the block, if he was really ever on the block in the first place.

      Keep in mind, Minny doesn’t have their first rounder this year, so they don’t own a lottery pick

  15. Zach Kuzmanic

    I know you didn’t see the end of the game but the Timberwolves were clearly a better team with Rubio on the floor when they made a run in the 4th Quarter. Ridnour might not make mistakes but he doesn’t help this team. Rubio makes everyone around him better. I thought Rick Adelman was supposed to be a top of the league coach? How long until Rubio is starting and getting the minutes he needs to get in the flow of the offense?

    • Mark Nugent

      Adelman was out yesterday, he was attending a funeral. He is one of the top coaches, and he was smart not to start Rubio to begin the season. Give him a few games to get used to being in the states and making sure he isn’t overwhelmed by everything.

      I’m guessing Rubio is the starter by the end of January, if not sooner. Rubio clearly is the better player and the offense runs a lot smoother when he is out there making plays.

  16. Tj

    Noah brewer for iggy an hawes Noah has no offence so he kind of a 4 on 5 on offence

    • Mark Nugent

      Bulls aren’t breaking up this team unless it lands them a true superstar like Howard. I’m still a believer in Noah and I love Brewer. So I wouldn’t do this trade.

      Just saw Justin Bieber at the Toronto Raptors game! Crazy! and no I’m not a fan.

  17. Jc

    Do you see the heat doing anything at the center position? I can’t see them going thru the season with anthony

    • Mark Nugent

      I think they will make a run at Joel P. or even Dampier again. But they really don’t need a stud center, they have three studs already and are probably the quickest team in the league.

  18. Jason

    Any chances the magic pry d-will from nj since they seem to be off on the wrong foot….and or maybe claim Wilson Chandler in march, he can score and defend..

    • Mark Nugent

      I don’t think there is any chance the Magic can land D-Will. The nets are hoping and seem pretty confident, as of right now, that he will re-sign in Brooklyn.

      As for Chandler, he is actually a restricted free agent and his rights belong to the Denver Nuggets. My guess is he finishes the year with the Nuggets.

  19. Zach

    Should Bulls fans root for a Charlotte 8 seed to get their draft pick in this year’s loaded draft? Or root for Charlotte to enter lottery protection for the potential the pick is higher next year in what might not be as strong a draft? If Charlotte does get a lottery pick this year it could make them a significantly better team possibly dropping the pick out of the lottery in 2013 in a worse draft. Thought?

    • Mark Nugent

      I’m rooting for Charlotte to be terrible for a long time and that pick to be a lottery pick in 3-5 years. The Bulls are set right now and likely won’t play any draft picks for the next year or two, so I’d rather wait and hope the Bulls get lucky again. Then the Bulls can sort of rebuild on the fly when Rose enters his absolute prime in 3-5 years with Mirotic and potentially the Charlotte pick, plus Deng, Gibson, Asik and Noah will all be late 20s or have just turned 30.

      The present and the future is very bright for the Bulls.

  20. Jc

    Kenyon Martin will land in Miami ?

    • Mark Nugent

      The latest rumors actually have him going to the New York Knicks. I guess he and Anthony were sort of friends, and ‘Melo is basically recruiting him to New York. What else is new, stars trying to play with their buddies?!

  21. likeabull

    We need ball handlers and play makers or we wont get past the heat

    • Mark Nugent

      Hamilton is supposed to be that guy, if he can knock down some shots in the clutch, then the Bulls could do it. Keep in mind they lost in five games to the HEAT, but they were extremely close games and had Rose hit a couple free throws it might have been a different series. The Bulls upgraded this offseason and so did the HEAT, so if they face each other again, it should be a great series.

      I’m not willing to trade Taj or Asik for a light upgrade. If you can give me a major upgrade then I would do it, but the Bulls will need Taj and Asik this season and in the playoffs. Taj finishes a lot of games and we are going to trade him for a slight upgrade. That doesn’t make sense.

  22. andrew

    Am I the only one who thinks people are overrating the Clippers? They have a completely new roster and a thin front court. I’m a huge clips fan but I feel expectations are unreasonably high right now.

    • Mark Nugent

      They have two superstars, a team that is willing to play defense and several teams in the west have either gotten worse or taken a step back. I see the Clippers passing a lot of teams this year. I don’t think they are true contenders yet, but to me, out west it’s really the Thunder’s to lose!