NBA Chat With Mark Nugent 4/12/12

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

  1. hugh

    who should sacramento target in the draft to go with tyreke, cousins and thomas??

    • Mark Nugent

      It all depends on what pick they end up with. If they are in the top three it’s pretty easy. I’d take Anthony Davis First, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist second, and then either Andre Drummond or Thomas Robinson third. With Cousins on board I’d probably take Robinson. They could use a defense and team first guy, so Thomas Robinson might be my pick, unless they end up with #1 overall. That’s Davis no matter what.

  2. Tigermask

    Why do you fail to give Rondo the credit he deserves? You contradict yourself left and right by first proclaiming throughout the year that the big 3 are too old and are on their last legs and then turn around and claim that all of Rondo’s achievements are simiply attributed to playing with 3 hall of famers. You can’t assert that the big 3 are done and on their last legs and then try and use them as the reason for Rondo’s play. Just maybe there is a symbiosis going on there? In an earlier chat you stated that trading Collison for Rondo would be a downgrade for the Pacers. Do you really believe that if the Celtics replaced Rondo with any other average pg, that player would put up similar if not better numbers than Rondo, since that player would also be playing with 3 hall of famers? If you believe that, your belief would be right up there with Joel’s when he replied to my question last year about KG, where he wrote he would take Villanueva over KG on his Bulls everyday of the week.

    • Mark Nugent

      I think I give Rondo plenty of credit. I think he is in a great situation for his skill set, which is playing tough defense, making smart passes and being able to crash the boards knowing that someone will always get back on defense. He also benefits from KG, Allen and Pierce being able to spread the floor so he has opportunities to get into the paint. Since he still has issues with his jump shot, without those guys, in my opinion he would struggle mightily to find any room inside.

      I believe the Celtics could still be a very competitive team with a different PG, but it depends on the guard. Jose Calderon, yes. Jamaal Tinsley, no.

      And for the record, the Celtics are old and on their last legs in my opinion. I’ve been incredibly impressed with how they have been playing these last 6 weeks, I certainly didn’t expect that. And I never would have chosen Charlie V. over KG. NEVER!

  3. Tigermask

    Please don’t start jumping on the Celtic’s bandwagon now. Keep believing what you have been proclaiming from the start that they are on their last legs, won’t catch the sixers for the lead in the Atlantic, they will get bounced in the first round of the playoffs, and that they are too old to compete with any of the younger more athletic teams, such as the heat, sixers, or pacers.

    • Mark Nugent

      I’m shocked they caught the 76ers, I was absolutely wrong that the Celtics would barely make the playoffs. The way they are playing they could upset the HEAT or Bulls, I doubt it, but it certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility. I now expect the Celtics to get out of the first round, but I still believe they will lose to the Bulls or HEAT.

  4. Frank

    Amare Stoudemire has 3 years and 64 million left on his uninsured contract with the New York Knicks after this season. If these issues for Amare continue (which many are predicting) how badly will this cripple NYC over the next few years considering the cap? Would you consider this contract similar to those dolled out by Isaiah Thomas?

    • Mark Nugent

      This contract will absolutely kill the Knicks if he can’t return to his all-star form. This team is capped out for the next three years, so the team they have now, is the team they are going to have in 2014-2015. This is not similar to Isiah, because the Knicks needed to do this. They needed to get some excitement back in the Garden and without Amar’e they probably don’t have Anthony or Chandler. The Stoudemire signing was key for them, unfortunately it could back fire in the next year or two, but this was a move they had to make, in my opinion.

      The bigger issue was the Knicks using their Amnesty on Chauncey Billups. Now they have no recourse for escaping from Stoudemire’s contract. I know they couldn’t have signed Chandler, but holding on to that Amnesty may have been the prudent thing to do. Time will tell.

  5. Dennis

    Without Dwight Howard in the lineup, Ryan Anderson was 2-10 from the field (including 1-7 from long distance) for 7 points against the powerhouse Washington Wizards. Is this simply a bad game from Anderson or highlight the fact he scores so many points due to the attention Dwight gets in the post?

    • Mark Nugent

      I would say it’s both. Anderson is clearly better, as are all the Magic players, with Howard in the lineup. But he also had an unusually bad game for him.

  6. Charlie

    Lamar Odom won the NBA 6th Man Award last year. Now he can’t stop sulking so he essentially gets cut from Dallas. I don’t have any sympathy for a man making 9 million a year who is traded to the defending champions. Its not like he was ousted to Toronto or Charlotte it was with Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs. What more do you want??? Mark Nugent, have you personally lost respect for this two time champion due to his unprofessionalism this year?

    • Mark Nugent

      I have not lost respect for Odom, because I believe there is more to this story then just him sulking. Odom is a very emotional person and has had some very serious issues to deal with throughout his life and career. Yes he’s rich, but he’s also dealt with things I hope I never have to deal with. So no, I haven’t lost respect for him and I do feel a little sorry for him. I certainly have more sympathy for the Mavs though.

  7. Mac

    Tommy Beer tweets “Unfortunate that Durant & OKC’s remarkable season receives 1/100th the coverage of Howard and the circus in Orlando.” Couldn’t agree more. Seems like the Howards and Metta World Peaces get the headlines, while OKC and San Antonio get little love. If you were a team owner, would you prefer a squad of silent assassins or a few players with a flamboyant personality to increase media exposure, popularity, jersey sales, etc.?

    • Mark Nugent

      If I was an owner I would hope to be more concerned with winning, than anything else.

  8. Sweet Dee

    Nicolas Batum is one of those players that has far more impact on the game then his boxscore would indicate. Dude only averages 14 points and 6 boards, but is one of the centerpieces to build the future around in Portland (along with Lamarcus Aldridge). What other players in the NBA have a far greater impact on the game then you would assume by just looking at the boxscore?

    • Mark Nugent

      Luol Deng, Batum and Deng are similar players. Tony Allen in Memphis. That man brings it every night and his D changes games. Those are the two biggies to me.

  9. Frank

    Now that Goran Dragic showed his capability of starting at point guard (averaging 16 points and 8 assists during 14 games as Houston’s starter). Does this change the way people view the vetoed New Orleans trade?They would have ended up with Scola, Martin, Dragic and Odom, making 3 quality starters and one whiner. Having seen how everything turned out, if you were GM of New Orleans would you prefer the Eric Gordan package or the Houston/Laker package?

    • Mark Nugent

      The vetoed trade will always be viewed with skepticism by some and by others, like me, as a good move for the Hornets. I always wanted the Gordon and Minny pick package. And if things fall right for the Hornets they could be competitive as soon as next year.

  10. Jazzfan

    Just a fun question say you have a equally balanced team, if you had to decide between a player with great offense and avg defense or a player with great defense and avg offense which would you choose?

    • Mark Nugent

      If my team is already balanced, I’d probably take the offense. Someone has to score at the end of games.

  11. Grandad434

    The Knicks have seen STAT go down twice in 2 years right when it really matters for the team’s championship chances.
    His contract is awful but do you see NY moving him to say Houston for Scola/K-Mart/1st round pick or Detroit for Gordon/Maxiell/Daye/2nd round 2012 pick?
    Sounds crazy, but he’s got to go to help the Knicks move forward and Melo obviously isn’t going anywhere.

    • Mark Nugent

      I don’t see any team in the league being willing to take on Stoudemire’s contract at this time. I think his contract is the most untradeable in the NBA. After next season, maybe the Knicks could trade him, when he only has two years left. But right now, I don’t see it as a possibility.

  12. Cricket

    Which player set the bar too high during his rookie season which led to unreasonable expectation from fans – Brandon Jennings after his 50 point game or Tyreke Evans when he became only the third rookie in NBA history to average 20, 5, and 5?

    • Mark Nugent

      Tyreke Evans in my opinion. Mostly because I believe he is a SG who has been forced into playing PG. Once he got into his natural position with Isiah Thomas starting, he has been a solid two way player. Plus I don’t believe he is a 20-5-5 guy on a good team.

  13. Peter

    Whats going on Mark? What do you think of a Granger for Bargnani? Allows Pacers to shift George to his more natural position at the 3 while adding more scoring 4 who is still fairly young and could hide his defensive weaknesses with Hibbert and overall team defense. It also allows Toronto get let Davis play more at the 4 along with Amir. While getting a veteran presence and scoring small forward which they both desperately need, plus he is only 29.

    • Mark Nugent

      I’d have to see the contracts, but just from a player standpoint I love that trade for both teams.

  14. Cain

    Who will be the star player in Denver? Lawson, Gallinari, Chandler even Faried?

    • Mark Nugent

      None of them are star players. I think all four are good players. But not stars.

  15. Jeff BAcie

    Have you bought the hype around Anthony Davis? Top end potential: Marcus Camby/Tyson Chandler… does this really make him such a consensus number 1 pick?

    • Mark Nugent

      I’ve believed the hype, I’ve believed it all year. I’ve watched him play all season and I believe he has Kevin Garnett upside, not Chandler or Camby. Davis is much further along offensively then most big men his age. I think he could be a game changer for whichever lottery team picks him.

  16. Sun

    Should the raps go after beal or Gordon and move demar to sf?

    • Mark Nugent

      Not sure who Gordon is? Ben Gordon? Cause he costs too much, so they should not go after him. In the draft, they should take the best player available. I could see Beal or Jeremy Lamb. But who I’d love to see them land is Harrison Barnes.

  17. Lateak

    Can the knicks move up… I want us to move up to 6 n face indiana cause we would win that series…. Dwill is to dallas?

    • Mark Nugent

      I think they can get to 7, but I don’t think there are enough games for them to get to 6. I think it’s the Bulls or HEAT for them in the first round.

      I think DWill ends up in Dallas, yes.

  18. raps4ever

    Hi Mark, Do you think both Colangelo and Stefanski, are the right guys to turn the Raptor franchise around going forward? Also, what can you say about their scouts?Personally, I think they suck.

    • Mark Nugent

      I can’t say anything about their scouts. What I would say is I would give everyone this year and next, and if they don’t make the playoffs it would be time for a change for me.

  19. Mac

    Andrew Bynum has only played 50, 65, and 54 games in each of the three previous seasons to this one. During those exact same seasons, Dwight Howard has played 79, 82, and 78 games while winning the Defensive Player of the Year award each time. Yet some disillusioned LA fans still believe they shouldn’t trade for Howard as Bynum is almost as good and not half the headache.Is this argument based on serious Laker goggles or can one legitimately make an argument for Bynum over Howard?

    • Mark Nugent

      You could make an argument for Bynum over Howard, but I think it would be a crazy argument. Howard is the best Center in the league and I would take him over Bynum every day of the week!

  20. Ricky

    How good can Marcus Thornton be?

    • Mark Nugent

      I think he is a solid scorer, but for him to take the next step he needs to focus on defense. That Kings team isn’t going anywhere until Cousins, Evans, and Thornton all buy in on D.

  21. Sun

    Eric gordon

    • Mark Nugent

      Should the Raptors pursue Eric Gordon? No. Too expensive, and his injury history is not going to be worth the money to the Raptors. Plus they may end up with a guy similar to Gordon in this year’s draft.

  22. yass

    Can the blazers be back in playoffs next year?

    • Mark Nugent

      Sure. They could end up with two lottery picks in a very deep draft. I don’t think the Blazers are that far away from being a playoff team. They need a PG and another big, both of which they could land in this year’s draft. I’d love to see them end up with Kendall Marshall and whoever the best big on the board is when they pick (Andre Drummond/John Henson/one of the Zellers).