NBA Chat With Mark Nugent 2/2/12

grandpa54

why havnt the nyk fired mike dantoni he is not a good coach .plays his favorites jeffries over novak douglas over lin jeffries over jordan.

Mark Nugent

I think he is a good coach, but he needs a pg. He won’t/can’t change his offensive scheme, so without a pg the ball stops and that crushes the offense. He’s also in the last year of his deal, so I think he stays for the season then they let him go. Why pay two coaches?

Radeesh (Germany)

Trade question:
Indiana gets: Bynum, Redick, 1 Pick Lakers
- 2nd beste Center for a fair price longterm

Orlando: Hibbert & P. Gasol
- 2 bigs, which allows to compete
- no Hedo contract

Lakers: Granger, Howard, Turkoglu
- Howard,
- Athletic forward

Mark Nugent

This isn’t terrible, it’s great for the Lakers. Makes them the best team in the league. But these huge trades never happen, I doubt anything this major will happen, too many stars are trading places in this deal, I just don’t see.

Sabin C

Hi.Otis should call Raptors for Calderon and get him.He’d be a great fit for Magic.I don’t think that Raptors will ask much in return.Your thoughts ?

Mark Nugent

The Magic would have to return some 9 million or so in salary to make the deal work. So who would they be willing to trade that the Raptors would actually want? I don’t see it unless for some insane reason the Magic wanted to trade Ryan Anderson, which isn’t happening.

andrea

what do you think about this trade:
Bargnani&Calderon for Pgasol+ebanks+first lakers pick.
IMHO lakers needs a player like calderon who can move the ball, and Bargnani could become new Gasol in a few year and he is younger and cheaper than Gasol. If than the lakers thakes dwight they become a really good team.
Raptors keep a young SF and a great PF wh can lead the team and teach to ed davis and DDerosan.

Even if I would see very well bargani after KG to boston

Mark Nugent

What is the benefit to the Raptors? The get an aging Gasol who has looked old and slow this year and give up an expiring contract who is playing great and a young scorer who is a matchup nightmare? How does this make sense for the Raptors?

Tj

Why do Chicago teams always know what they need an never obtain them bears need wr never gets them bulls need another playmaker or big trade period their not gonna beta Mia as is also boozer looks good against garbage teams an scared against the good poor rose an rip a waist we could have got Crawford instead

Mark Nugent

I can’t speak for the Bears, but for the Bulls I will say they went out and got the guy they wanted this offseason. Rip is a quality veteran who was willing to sign a shorter deal then guys like Jason Richardson, and he has a championship pedigree. And he can shoot and handle the ball some and play good team defense. He seems like the perfect fit. Yes he’s injured and has been most of the year, but every team is dealing with injuries. Hopefully he’s healthy come playoff time and then it’s no big deal. Why would you want Jamal Crawford. He’s shooting 38% from the field and takes terrible shots throughout the game and plays very little defense. Not sure how that is an upgrade over Korver or Brewer, much less Hamilton.

As for Boozer, he was the best available FA left. It’s that simple.

Tj

I heard jr smith too Chicago done deal he already moved to the chi according to bill plaske of around the horn

Mark Nugent

I haven’t heard anything on Smith yet. He won’t get let out of his contract until the Chinese season ends and then the rumors will start.

Marc Cuban

What happens if the mavericks strike out in free agency with D12 and DWill? Who do they sign instead? They have to fill the 1,2 and 5 with young talent. At the sign kidd or nash or hinrich 1 year with a team option and wait for the 2013 free agents. at 2 sign gordon or fields. at the 5 who would you choose between mcgee, hibbert and lopez?

Mark Nugent

I have no idea what plan B is. They are hoping big time for either DHoward or DWill.

Queensland Man

What has happened to Dirk? This is actually depressing to watch. he went from the greatest postseason run in nba history to being unable to drive past kendrick freaking perkins.

Mark Nugent

His knee is not right. He looks very uncomfortable out there. It is pretty sad, but hopefully it just takes him some time to get right and then they can make another deep playoff run.

Renee

It kills me to see Nash on a struggling Suns team. He put up 30 and 10 the other night. How good would a team like the Pacers or Blazers be if they had him?

Mark Nugent

He would be a perfect fit on the Blazers or Pacers. I’m rooting for the Blazers.

Bill

Nugent!: Are you ready to bump my Sixers up a seed or two after they just dismantled your Bulls last night?!?

Mark Nugent

Yes I am. I have them in the top four in the East with the Bulls, HEAT, and Pacers. And that was a butt whooping, I was very impressed.

Bill

What’s your prediction for the Super Bowl?

Mark Nugent

Patriots by 2. Something like 30-28.

Mutang

Mark, I’ve tried asking the same question for four of your co-workers and instead 9 more questions about D12 insued!!! What the?? ANYWAY!
Your Raptors writer co-worker says that the Raps are looking for something like a 10mTPE for Calderon, so that they can then turn that into Wilson Chandler. Utah has a 10m TPE I believe, and a starting PG in Devin that really is like a square peg. They could use a traditional PG, so any chance Raps/Utah do business? If not what does Utah do? I think Calderon would make them from tough team, to the one that nobody wants to play.

Mark Nugent

Wilson Chandler is a restricted free agent and unless the Nuggets renounce his rights, which is very unlikely, Chandler is pretty much destined to end up back with the Nuggets. There are certain trade restrictions that will be in place, but I’ll send you to Larry Coon for the exact details.

alex

do you think that when people before were saying rubio wasn’t a good defender that they were just basing it on his skin color?

Mark Nugent

No, I think they were basing it on his foot speed and positioning, both of which seem to be better than when he was in Spain. Plus, the Euroleague is considered more physical than the NBA, and that suits him very well.

Tj

Stephen Jackson for brewer Lucas scal butler an a 2 round pick great trade for bulls an bucks get great defender good team guy bulls get tough guy were gonna need for Indy Mia an Phila plus my will get it together Jax can score handle the bull defend an when rip get back one of the two could be our Jason terry off the bench

Mark Nugent

I agree that could help the Bulls, but I don’t see the Bulls bringing in a malcontent like Jackson. They pride themselves on everyone being on the same page, and SJax could disrupt that.

Tj

Scola lee hill an budinger for boozer asik an butler an 2rd pick great deal for both taj could start or we could put brewer in an take asik out what u think

Mark Nugent

No one wants Boozer. Plain and simple, he is owed way to much money over the next three years. I’d do that in a second if I’m the Bulls, but I wouldn’t pay Boozer and then risk losing Asik in FA either this year or next year.

durand

Are the sixers for-real?

Mark Nugent

Yes. I don’t think they will make it out of the East, but they will be a very difficult out in the playoffs. The East is going to be very tough this year and while the HEAT and Bulls are at the top of the class, the Pacers and Sixers are up and coming and the Celtics may have some veteran moxy left, and even the Hawks or Magic could get hot at the right time.

Tj

Why do big 2 an 3 try too guard rose like Lebron will guard him but not Chris Paul is that the scouting report on rose big athletic guard on him

Mark Nugent

I think you will see some interesting matchups with Paul in the playoffs as well as with Rose. But with Rose it’s all about trying to make him a passer or making it as difficult as possible for him to score. So the other team generally puts their best perimeter defensive player on him. for Paul, he such a good passer, it doesn’t matter as much. That said, come playoff time I think you’ll see lots of teams shift their top defensive perimeter guy onto Paul.

John

hey mark, do you think nash can hit the 10,000 assist mark by the end of the season and also do you see nash playing in the all star game?

Mark Nugent

I think it will come down to Nash or Tony Parker as the third PG. And no I don’t think he gets to 10,000 this year. he still needs almost 600 to get there. He’ll do it next season though.

Jason

So the Hornets aren’t looking for any salary in return for Kaman, so essentially the Pacers could add Kaman to their bench for only next year’s first round pick… If this happens are the Pacers the deepest team in the league?

Mark Nugent

No I don’t think so. I still think the Bulls will be the deepest team in the league when healthy. But the Pacers would be close. The Mavs are extremely deep as well and the Nuggets. The Pacers would be up there, but I don’t think they would be the deepest, especially with George Hill out, they don’t have a backup pg right now.

Chris

Do you think guys like Lebron ,Wade, Carmelo are little overrated due to the lack of big men like Patrick Ewing, Valley and other tough big men it seems that the nba has gotten a little soft in the past 10 years…would jump into the lane with guys like that in it

Mark Nugent

I just think the game is a little different now. There are guys that take charges instead of blocking shots, and you really didn’t have that back in the 80s and 90s. Guys are so fast right now, that big lumbering guys just don’t get heavy minutes any more because of how fast the game is. I don’t think guys are overrated because of no big men, I think they might be overrated for other reasons. Like ‘Melo is only an offensive player and doesn’t make his teammates better. Wade can’t stay healthy, and LeBron can’t finish.

dapper

How close do you think the Clippers are to potentially becoming the best team in the West? I know that the Thunder may be the team to beat right now, but based on what I’ve seen from this team, I think they’re only one more big body away from being a legitimate contender. What do you think they need to take that next step?

Mark Nugent

I think they are a legit contender this year. I think the Thunder are the team to beat, but the Clippers, Mavs, maybe the Lakers and Grizz if healthy, are next in line.

Roy

If you were Mitch Kupchak, what deals would you make to allow the Lakers to put their best team on the floor this year?

Mark Nugent

It depends on how becomes available. The Lakers are ready and willing to take on salary. So I think they’ll take anyone who makes them better.

Frank

Kyle Lowry looks like one of the highest producing players per salary in the NBA. Dude has been shredding it up and only makes 5.7 mill this year, then 5.7mill and 6.2mill (note: he needs a new agent). What other players in the NBA contribute far more than their salary?

Mark Nugent

Any great player on a rookie salary. Even Rose is waaaay under paid right now. His extension doesn’t kick in until next year.

Frank

The JJ Barea’s and Derek Fisher’s of the world are notorious for pretending they got shot like a little girl every time they get touched in a game (in an effort to get the call from the referee). Jeff Van Gundy suggested heavily fining players for blatantly flopping (proven through replay). I completely support this idea, as after a few fines / hundred thousands of dollars players will “man up” and start playing real defense. Agree or Disagree with Van Gundy’s suggested policy?

Mark Nugent

I’ve always thought that fines should be doled out for any blatant flop. I’ve said that for years. My biggest and really only complaint about the NBA right now is the charge call and the flopping.

Oliver from germany

Where would you rank nash As a Point Guard and gortat As a Center in the NBA? What Should the Suns do to have the Best possible Future? Love the Chats

Mark Nugent

Nash is still in my top five. Rose, Paul, Westbrook, then Nash. Dwill was ahead of him, but he’s been pretty bad this year, not that it’s all his fault, that team is terrible. Gortat is an average starting center. Some of that depends on who you consider a center also. Is Duncan a center or PF? But I’d probably put him right about 15th. Here are guys I believe are definitely better than him.

Chandler, Bargs, Noah, Hibbert, Greg Monroe (Seriously, watch him play sometime), Howard, Duncan, Scola, Marc Gasol, Perkins, Nene, Jordan, Pau Gasol, and Bynum.

Is Love a center? He sure plays a lot of it. Anyway, he’s in the middle somewhere.

Sweet Dee

Which team has a greater chance of derailing the championship hopes of the HEAT this playoffs: The Chicago Bulls or Oklahoma City Thunder

Mark Nugent

I’d say the Bulls, because it is more likely the Bulls make the Eastern Conference Finals than the Thunder and HEAT make the Finals. If we are just talking about which team is a better match up to beat the HEAT, then I’d probably go Thunder. Durant and LeBron kind of wipe each other out. Ibaka and Perkins can handle Bosh, and Westbrook is closing in on Wade, especially because he is slowed with injury. And I think the Thunder are deeper. Any way you look at it, a Bulls/HEAT or HEAT/Thunder series would be a lot of fun to watch.

wayne

who should go out on a limb and trade for Stephen Jackson??

Mark Nugent

The Lakers would be my first pick. They could play him at the three alongside Kobe but I doubt they really have anything the Bucks want. Maybe picks? But Jackson on the Lakers seems like a perfect fit to me.

Sweet Dee

If you were starting a team from scratch, which center would you choose and why: DeAndre Jordan, Javale McGee, or Spencer Hawes

Mark Nugent

Jordan. He has his head on straight and is a freak athlete.

Sweet Dee

Many writers claim the San Antonio Spurs can be used as the “blueprint” for small market team success. However, the San Antonio Spurs currently have a 76 million dollar payroll (6th highest). This negates this claim, as the payroll exemplifies the fact that it costs tons of money to retain your talent (Duncan, Parker, Ginobli). So the Spurs can only be used as a short-term model, as other teams would lose these players if they are unwilling to spend all this money (meaning they wouldn’t still have the Big 3 and would be bottom dwellers once again). We see this with OKC, as they will be forced to the top in payroll once they resign (Durant, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka). Your thoughts.

Mark Nugent

The bottom line for any franchise, big or small, is you have to draft a star and hope he stays, or you have to get very lucky and that star wants to come to your city as a free agent. But no matter what, one star or even two stars will not make you a contender unless you put the right pieces around those stars. The best way to keep stars is to win, which means you need to draft well and spend your money wisely. The teams to emulate are the Spurs, Bulls, OKC, and if you don’t have a star the Pacers and Nuggets. the only really bad contract on those five teams right now is Carlos Boozer’s. The best way to avoid getting trapped with a bad team is to stay away from bad long-term deals for non-stars. And those five teams have done a very good job at that.

Mac

Houston and Darrel Morey are always active in trade talks – trying to get something done for a quality center – but for whatever reason never seems to fall their way. However, you hear from league executives they are ‘asking for the moon’ for reserve players such as Terrence Williams, Courtney Lee, and Jordan Hill. So even after the entire league doesn’t want to trade with Morey, he makes it even harder by setting the value of his players way too high. I understand the theory of playing hardball and slowly moving down your asking price, but Morey CLEARLY has no concept of how to make a trade. Your thoughts.

Mark Nugent

I disagree. I think Morey is doing a pretty good job with the Rockets as far as gathering assets, the problem he had was the Commissioner essentially canceled a trade that would have sent Pau Gasol to the Rockets and rumor has it, then Houston would have signed Nene with their available cap space. That’s just bad luck and bad timing. Morey has made several trades, and some very big trades over the years. The problem they have right now is they need to either bottom out or they need to get lucky in a trade to land that big they are so desperately seeking.

Mac

In your opinion, which player is more detrimental to a team’s chemistry/lockerroom: Gilbert Arenas, Metta World Peace, Andre Blatche, or Michael Beasley

Mark Nugent

By all accounts, World Peace is a pretty good teammate, so I’d take him off this list. Peace’s problem is he just isn’t a very good player any more.

I think Arenas’ has been humbled by this whole experience of being bought out and not being able to play the way he used to since coming back from injury. So I think he will be a very good teammate, at least for the next year or two. I get the sense from everything I’ve read, that Arenas just wants to get back on the court and prove that he can still play.

So it really comes down to Blatche and Beasley, and I think it’s a tie. I wouldn’t want either on my team. Beasley is on a shorter contract, so I’d take him over Blatche, but right now I’d pass on both players. Neither plays defense, both think they are better than they are, and both have had their issues with coaches and in the media. Both are pretty good talents, but I don’t think either will reach his potential.

Mac

If I was Kevin Love I would have already decided to opt out of my contract with Minnesota after the 3 mandatory years. I play my heart out, tear the league up on the boards, am the first of MANY lottery picks that finally worked out. But my owner has already showed me how important I am to this team (by not assigning the franchise player spot). This may seem like a harsh/rash decision, but it is human nature: go where you feel valued. Your thoughts.

Mark Nugent

My guess is that Love has decided he will play his ass off during these next 3.5 years and if the T-Wolves are a threat in the playoffs he will re-up and if they are not then you can pretty much guarantee that he will leave via FA, in my opinion.

ryan

should portland be looking for a new point guard

Mark Nugent

Yes and no. they should keep their eyes and ears open, but I think they need a major upgrade or they should just keep Felton and hope he snaps out of it. I’d be pursuing Nash if I was them, but I wouldn’t be interested in guys like Ramon Sessions, ie, fringe starters.

Larry

Can joel pryzillba be a significant contributor for the Heat

Mark Nugent

to the HEAT, yes. He could be there backup center, which would move Haslem to just the backup PF. However, Joel P hasn’t played in while so who knows what he really has left in the tank. He could be another Eddy Curry. It’s worth the chance, but he doesn’t really help them in the long-term.

Christian P

what do you think the warriors should do to start winning some games? Their team isn’t bad. I don’t understand how they keep dropping games.

Mark Nugent

They need to play better defense and they need to play as a team on offense. When Monta Ellis and Steph Curry are actually moving the ball, they are a good team. But a lot of times it seems like the ball stops with those guys and that is obviously not a good thing. Their team defense is still pretty bad, and until that improves it doesn’t matter how many points they score, it won’t be enough.

dapper

Unfortunately, I’m a big Raptors fan. Do you think Calderon will find a new home? I think the Raps need to find a PG who’s quicker and more athletic. He simply can’t keep up with the bigger and more athletic points guards. Where do you see him possibly going?

Mark Nugent

I haven’t heard any realistic rumors for Jose yet. as the deadline gets nearer his name will be flying around I suspect. But remember, the Raptors won’t take on any long-term salary unless they get something very appealing in return. My guess is he plays out the year with the Raps then leaves via FA in the summer.

Thomas C.

Mark, why do you think people keep proposing their stupid trade ideas that 98% will be laughed at by an actual GM? And do you think Ryan Anderson is the real deal? Or is he just a benefactor of the Mo Williams effect? (To clarify, when Lebron James took his talents to south beach, Mo’s FG% and PPG took a hit.) Can Anderson consitently keep up this production even if Dwight leaves for greener pastures and he can’t take advantage of double-teams on Dwight?

Mark Nugent

People like proposing trade ideas that help their team only, because it’s fun to think about what a Rose and howard pairing would be like, especially if the Bulls could keep Noah, and deng.

I think Anderson is a very good player, especially on a team with a dominant big. He can’t create his own shot, but he can thrive in the Matt Bonner roll. I think Anderson is better suited off the bench on a championship caliber team, but he can definitely shoot and I like that he plays with a bit of an edge.

Tj

Do u think there well be a lot of trades this year at the deadline

Mark Nugent

what’s a lot? I think there will be about ten trades between now and the deadline. with about 8 of them occurring over the last two days before the deadline.