NBA Chat with Stephen Brotherston 1/16/12

Join HOOPSWORLD’s Stephen Brotherston for his weekly NBA chat covering the Toronto Raptors and all things NBA every Monday at 3pm ET.

Get your questions and comments in now.

  1. Glen Taylor (Juan Pablo)

    Imagine I’m the owner of TWolves and I tell you that I want to have just 12 players in my roster. I want to keep the players you will see below as well and fill the team with very good players or young players with all-star potential at least (even if I have to trade for draft picks and get them via draft).
    Starters: Rubio-___-Williams-Love-____
    Bench: Barea-____-Webster-Randolph-Tolliver
    Prospect: Lee – ____ (combo forward-center).
    Which players would you pick considering the current style of play and all players available to trade (Ridnour, Ellignton, W Johnson, Beasley, Milicic, Pekovic, Miller and draft picks)?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Welcome to the chat

      We can all imagine an owner putting restrictions on their GM that inevitably leads to bad decisions.

      Rubio, Williams, Love are the untouchables – everyone else can be had if the Wolves could land the starting 7′ center they need.

      The wolves do not need to add anymore youth – they need vets for the youth to lean on while they learn. I would try to hang onto Ridnour from your list of trade-ables.

  2. Charlie

    If you were owner of the Toronto Raptors, would you prefer the Raps tank this year in hopes of getting a high draft pick (i.e let all the young guys play, sit the Klieza’s, Barbosa’s, etc) OR are you trying to win the maximum games possible to at least try and make the playoffs (note: Boston Celtics are #8 seed right now in the East)

    • Stephen Brotherston

      The Raptors have the philosophy for this year just right – expect nothing but to learn how to play defense and which players are the “keepers” BUT hope they do better than expected and don’t hold them back.

      The draft is deep – you don’t need a top 5 pick to get a really good player out of this draft.

  3. FocusLJA

    Boris Diaw was benched to start the Bobcats game against the Warriors, snapping a 230+ game starting streak. This pretty much spells the end for Diaw. What teams would be enticed by his expiring contract? Which teams?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      I look at Diaw like Battier last year. At the deadline some team will have an jury or a need and that’s where and when he should be moved – its really too soon to know where the Cats can get the best return.

      The Celtics could use Diaw right now though.

  4. Ryan

    Who would win an Ed Davis for OJ Mayo swap? Davis seems like an Amir clone to me and Mayo would provide the Raps with the 3pt shot/scoring ability they need badly.

    With a very deep draft this year do you see the Raps acquiring additional picks? Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist, and Kabongo would look great on the Raps next year.

    • Stephen Brotherston

      That’s not an easy call and its one of the few ideas I believe both teams would pause and look at. Grizz save some money, Raps get a SG. We wouldn’t know the winner for a couple of years – which is as it should be.

      The list is long of kids in this draft who would look good in Toronto! It’s really early but Jeremy Lamb later in the lottery would look good and Casey is probably the right coach for him.

  5. Matt

    What do you think about Leandro Barbosa to the Lakers for Darius Morris and one of the two DAL/LAL first round draft picks? Barbosa would fit in to the LO trade exemption.

    The Lakesr have no depth at SG and could use insurance at PG.

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Barbosa would look good in LA and give Kobe some rest.

      But Colangelo has made it clear that he likes LB – and who wouldn’t – he’s a great vet to have on a team – a great teammate.

      I haven’t seen much of Darius but he’s the right age and is doing okay in short minutes and in this draft getting a mid-20s pick might just be enough to tempt BC.

  6. Abdul Alkhatib

    Hey Stephen,
    So what do you think of a potential trade to bring over pau gasol?
    He isn’t getting the ball as muh as he should and I feel as if the Lakers fans are turning against him for his recent slump.
    I think that he would be a great piece beside Bargnani and could possibly mentor Jonas Valancuinas.
    Also, he has a spanish connection with Jose so he could be excited to play alongside his fellow spaniard, what do you think?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Would love to see Pau in a Raptors uniform. Hard to see that happening

      Outside of Bargnani – the Raps don’t have much else they can send back that earns enough money and has enough talent to get a deal done – and the Raps are not parting with Bargs. PG earns $18.7m this season.

      It’s hard to see the Lakers doing a Barbosa & Calderon for Pau & maybe Morris deal unless they are really trying to shed payroll.

  7. Steve

    Would you do these trades Boobie Gibson and Ryan Hollins to the suns for Dudly, Warick and a#1 Suns save ton of $$$ and cavs get an extra #1. and Jamison for Okafer again hornets save a ton of $$$and cavs pick up a #1

    • Stephen Brotherston

      You are going to get the Cavs attention by offering a likely lottery pick.

      I like Okafor – he just doesn’t seem to fit on the Cavs – I don’t see the NOH parting with a pick.

  8. Alex in Burbank

    Why do they call the champs “WORLD” Champs, if it’s only US and Canada? I’m pretty sure they can probably beat the “WORLD” but still. Just saying…

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Old terminology from the days when most of the best players were all from the USA and the other leagues couldn’t attract top talent – no longer the case. With the Olympics and world championships established as premier tournaments that can only be won by sending your country’s best players – the World Champion is the National Team that wins it all.

      As of yet, we don’t have a club team tournament that invites the best from the various leagues but maybe someday?

  9. shad

    When will the national media start noticing the Utah Jazz?

  10. Drew

    Sounds like Mayo is on the block which if any trade would Memphis accept from Minny for him? Beaz, Wes or Ellington and Peck. Add a pick with any if needed. But he would be great next to Rubio and could get Love to resign. Assuming we can’t get K Martin or Ellis

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Wolves are not in a good position to be adding a pick but – if the Griz believe Wes Johnson has been misused (good argument) or they need backup PG help – Ridnour maybe – a deal might be possible. (& the main purpose is to shave some salary)

      They probably want to trade Beasley – but that could be tough…

      There is a good argument that the Wolves might be better served adding a low maintenance veteran SG or going after what they are really missing – another 7-footer.

  11. Drew

    What would Minny need to give up to get Kaman? Would Beaz, Randolph and a pick due it? Other?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      NOH is loaded with young prospects and probably like having Kaman’s expiring deal on their roster.

      Beasley, Randolph, and Johnson might peak their interest, especially if they don’t have to take Beasley – most teams will want to see how he deals with Williams first.

  12. Alex rosen

    Will the blazers retire Brandon Roy’s jersey?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      They might out of respect for how hard he tried – but that wasn’t a very long career to retire a number over.

      I’d expect them to honor or recognize his contributions more than retire his number.

  13. Alex rosen

    What are your thoughts on Warriors rookie Charles Jenkins?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      I haven’t got to see him play in person yet but he gives the impression of playing within his capabilities and making a real contribution – someone who will stick around. Not bad for his first few NBA games.

  14. Alex rosen

    More likely to land D12:Lakers or Nets?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Odds go to the Nets for now – but this situation isn’t close to being resolved – everything is still possible.

  15. Omar

    What is your expectation, standing ranking prediction, and the realistic outcome for the Indiana Pacers?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      The Pacers are going to be tough to beat because they don’t rely on any one player to get the job done. Playoffs should be a certainty.

      Pacers could easily slide into the 4 – 6 spots as they are more injury resistant than most other teams.

  16. Alex from Burbank

    I’m curious, what’s the NBA record for consecutive 40 point games? Because I think Kobe wants to break it.

    • Stephen Brotherston

      That’s all for today. Thanks for all the great comments and questions.

      Asking about scoring records – always look first to Wilt Chamberlain.
      Averaged 50.4 ppg 60-61
      Averaged 44.8 ppg 61-62
      7 consecutive 50 point games
      14 consecutive 40 point games

      Because Wilt played in an era where Televised games were iffy – we tend to forget Wilt scored almost 1,000 more points in a single season than MJ did in his best year. Wilt was a scoring machine that was never seen before – will never been seen again – and Wilt had many of his best scoring games against the league’s best defensive center – Bill Russell.