NBA Chat With Stephen Brotherston 1/7/13

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

Remember chats fill up quickly so get your comments and questions in now.

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  1. Steve

    Are the raptors interested in trading for rudy gay or demarcus cousins? Are there any other players that the raptors will go after?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Welcome to this afternoons’s chat.

      There is a ton of trade speculation – but the player the Raptors would like to move – Andrea Bargnani – well he isn’t going anywhere with a torn ligament in his elbow. Waiting for his next scheduled MRI – that Casey wouldn’t put a date on – before we know when he’ll be back.

      Rudy Gay is a player linked to the Raptors – but that’s a very non-Raptors like contract he carries and he doesn’t score any more than DeRozan (at twice the price) – For the right deal, Colangelo stll has to listen

      For Cousins – the Kings, if or when they decide to move DMC, will get a ton back. High risk, but potential superstar center – no scraps – the Kings will get real talent back – not just the Raps would like a chance at Cousins.

      The list of usual suspects is still out there – Gasol, Ilyasova even some decent rumors about Pekovic, Gortat – Colangelo will be looking at anyone who can make his team better.

  2. Kim

    When is Jerry buss going to step in and fire mike d Antoni
    Seriously he is not the right coach this season is going down the drain they need to get rid of him even if he hates Phil why not Jeff van Gundy

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Lakers hired D’Antoni knowing what kind of coach he was – wouldn’t make a lot of sense to fire him now because he’s doing what he has always done.

      It was obvious to everyone that the Lakers just maybe would have a personnel issue with Mike – a coach who likes to run & spread the floor – they should do what was obvious at the time and trade for some players that match the coach they hired.

      The other solution is another new head coach, but 3 different head coaches in one season? Odds of that strategy working?

  3. steppxxxxz

    Clearly the raps are playing better….notwithstanding last night vs sactown. Clearly better without bargs. Why did casey play him so much when he was so obviously terrible. I hear people try to say oh, he hits threes etc. He exerted no effort, no defense, and often looked half asleep. What moves going forward can toronto make?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      It’s easy to blame the guy who isn’t playing – but the Raptors played much better without Lowry too – that doesn’t mean the loses were Lowry’s fault either. The team had injures and played poorly for 22 games – it was time to move on and suck it up – and the guys they had on the floor (sans Lowry & Bargnani) did just that.

      Doesn’t mean Bargnani can play with the same intensity when he gets back as we saw at the start of the season – that just wasn’t acceptable. He has to step up like his teammates have or step aside. It is getting pretty well known around the league that Bargnani is available in trade.

  4. Tasia

    Hey Stephen!
    Grizzlies are listening to offers for gay who do you see getting him?
    I think the rockets, raptors, kings, pistons, and Cavs will make a call.

    2. Who’s the best option for the bobcats in the draft? I want shabazz more than Noel.

    • Stephen Brotherston

      I’m not the NCAA expert here, but I do know a lot can change between Jan & draft day – it’s too early to pick a prospect yet – and it’s called a draft lottery for a reason – just like the regular lottery, it’s tough to win it.

      If the Grizz really are finally getting cold feet about luxury taxes (its about time), they’ll want some cheaper serviceable pieces and you have identified some teams that could do it. The team that gets him will be the team willing to offer the least amount expensive multi-year scrap to their package – money is a motivator here.

  5. Raptor Fanatic

    Do you think the Raptors would include DeRozan in a transaction if it meant a return of Gay?

  6. Clayton in Portland

    Hey Stephen. The Blazers need help at literally every position. Since they have so much young talent, do you think they will shop their draft picks for one of these names being thrown around (millsap, Gordon, Calderon, prince)? Will they wait for free agency to try and land pekovic or Gerald Henderson? Draft night trade for eric bledsoe? Do they resign j.j. hickson? They don’t need any more high-ceiling, “wait and see” type of draft picks. They need Provence talent and veterans.

    • Stephen Brotherston

      That’s the right idea and recent off seasons suggest, they won’t have to risk RFAs to get the guys they need.

      If the Blazers want to be a playoff team and become a contender – they need to add some proven veteran talent. Similar to what the Bulls did as they built around Rose. They don’t have to (all) be “stars” – just guys who know what they are doing and fit with Stotts coaching style.

  7. Deven

    Fact or Fiction: Andrea and Jose will be dealt by the trade deadline?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Fact is Raps will try to trade Bargnani and have tried to trade Calderon – but no one can guarantee a deal can be done. Deals have to work for both teams involved.

  8. Deven

    What have you notice about these resurgent Raptors, Stephen?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Alan Anderson is way better than advertised and getting better each game.
      Landry Fields doesn’t have any confidence in his jump shot yet – but he is playing very hard and effectively.
      Kyle Lowry is a part of the team now.
      Ed Davis is a very small 6’9.5″ guy when other teams have big physical power forwards & centers
      Raptors are playing small ball a lot – but that is mostly because without Valanciunas & Bargnani, the Raptors are a really small club.

  9. Deven

    Since the Heat is looking for a rebounder, who will they look into?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      HEAT don’t need anything and have little to offer in trade – that they’d actually trade.
      HEAT look bored – this is all too easy – they don’t need help – they need the postseason

  10. Deven

    Which teams will be the most active at the trade deadline?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Toronto
      Boston
      Lakers
      Philly
      Kings
      Grizz
      Nets
      Everybody will be looking at opportunities between now & the deadline – but not everyone will find a dance partner.

  11. Alex

    Great chats,if RAPS. are interested in RUDY GUY, what BC. would be willing to give up? and if KINGS will call DMC for big VAL, WILL you do it?
    thanks

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Cousins for Valanciunas (toss in Ed or Ross) and take the deal.

      Rudy Guy – Like the Grizz to take Bargs or Calderon plus Fields, but you know they are going to ask for more. Ross maybe

  12. Danny Two-Step

    My main man Stephen. I care about you a lot guy. I’m a lakers fan. Now that that’s out there, I TRULY believe the following trades are fair:
    Pau Gasol for Kevin Love, Pekovic and Rubio
    Metta World Peace for Lebron.

    I think a core of Lebron, Love and Howard could be pretty good going forward. Thoughts?

  13. Chris

    Hi Stephen. Hearing rumblings that Brooklyn is still Dwight Howards’s preferred destination this summer. The possibility of Phil Jackson as coach has only intensified this preference. What sort of a deal do you think Billy King and Mitch could swing? Dwight and Nash for Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace, and picks?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Can’t do a S&T if you are over the Cap now – Nets are so far over……

  14. Steve

    When will we see lowry and fields start again? Calderon just doesnt seem to be the same when another good point gaurd is active.

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Fields isn’t ready to start yet – but it shouldn’t be long. Calderon’s trade value is higher starting…

  15. Steve

    Is bargnani for sure going to shipped out of toronto? Or is colangelo still not willing to give up on him?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Nothing is for sure – other than Bargnani is available – have to find someone to deal with

  16. ralph lawrence

    Hi Stephen! will a trade of tyreke evans, jimmer fredette and maybe a 2nd round pick be enough to acquire rudy gay? heard memphis is open to shop gay and if that is the case will memphis accept the offer by the kings?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      That would represent a huge salary dump – Grizz are not quite there yet

  17. Angaso

    Is it just me or the HEAT are overrated?!

    I know they are the defending champs and I know that they can repeat, but they are still lacking real big men that can compete well with the legit bigs of some opposing playoff teams.

    I believe their quest to the title last year was not that tough. They had on their way the injury-ridden then-weaker Knicks, lacking-in-experience but talented Pacers, lacking-in-depth Celtics, and first-timers (KD, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka and Scott Brooks) Thunder.

    Plus, in the Finals, Battier and Miller were shooting lights out, a thing that they don’t normally do during the first rounds. Another is Harden played unforcefully awful. And they just got lucky that Thunder’s best two defenders were not fully utilized (esp. Perkins) because of Heat’s perimeter game.

    Lastly, last year’s a lock-out. My point is MAYBE, the odds just went in Miami’s favor.

    While this year, I can see that Miami’s road is sure gonna be tougher considering the emergence of more teams as title contenders. And I believe that if they face a team with legit big men, they might fall.

    Your thought on my thoughts, please?! Thanks!

    • Stephen Brotherston

      HEAT are bored – they have coasted into 1st in the East.

      They won’t be bored after the playoffs start, but there are some really tough teams out West – no guarantees the HEAT win this time

  18. Newmarket Brian

    Is there any truth to the rumour that Kyle Lowry is in conflict with Dwane Casey?

  19. Richard

    Happy new year Stephen,

    Please tell me the raps shopping Lowry has no legs. Yes Calderon has looked good the last couple weeks, but lets be honest those are not the tougher teams. I love Jose, but we have done this dance before. He is not capable of being the point guard to lead us to the promise land. I also don’t agree that this is the most talented team Jose has had the chance to lead. The 09-10 raps were just as talented if not more and we still missed the playoffs. Lowry is the better choice to move forward with. Your unbiased opinion? Thanks Stephen

    • Stephen Brotherston

      I don’t believe this is a shopping Lowry situation – it is more of a which PG is more desired.
      Really, nothing is off the table anymore.
      Colangelo & the Raptors need an All-Star caliber player – if they can find one

  20. JUNIOR

    hey stephen maybe you was right about the raptors fighting to make the playoff but u was extremely wrong about Jonas Valanciunas. He is a ok player but not going to be a big impact like Vince Carter like what u say, anyways when do u think the raptors is going to make a trade?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Vince was a franchise player – somewhat of a rare find.
      Valanciunas has played well, but been held back. The broken finger could actually help in the 2nd half of the season.

      I think everybody will be surprised if the Raptors can’t pull off at least 1 trade

  21. Jake

    Hey Stephen,

    Happy New Year! What do you think about this 3 team trade between the Lakers, Raptors and Timberwolves ?

    LA Gets: Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani

    Raptors Get: Nikola Pekovic, JJ Barea and Derrick Williams

    Timberwolves Get: Pau Gasol

    *Trade works with salaries on trade machine, your thoughts?

  22. dub

    Hey stephen, would a bargnani for jeff green + jared sullinger make sense?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      It does – not sure it really helps either team, but I could see both teams doing it.

  23. dub

    I think it’s safe to say that ed davis is the future are the pf position in toronto. So I guess the biggest weakness to address would be the sf position? Would a bargs+calderon for gay swap work?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      It’s safe to say Ed Davis could develop into a starting power forward – as he gets stronger and develops his game – he showed great talent in college that we are seeing some of recently and it gives us legitimate hope he becomes the guy he was projected to be after winning the NCAA championship as a rookie.

      Gay for Bargs & JC sort of works – except if increases the Grizz luxury tax bill this season (bad) & doesn’t really give them depth at positions of need going forward

  24. dub

    This may be a stupid idea, but with ross showing great potential would the raptors think about moving derozan in a deal if it brought back a great player? I think eventually ross will outshine derozan and make him expendable.

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Ross could become DeRozan’s replacement – although that is getting a little ahead of where the rookie is today. Could see this becoming a decision in the summer, or a year or two

  25. Bhagdeep

    Hey Stephen,

    What if the raptors traded Ed Davis, Terrance Ross and a protected first round pick (15-30 for 2012 draft)to the Kings for Demarcus Cousins? He absolutely dominated us the other night, do you think Casey would be able to control him?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Cousins is the type of impact player Toronto needs going forward – but they traded their 1st round pick away already, so you are looking at roster pieces only.

      No one knows who/if anyone can control Cousins – but he is worth taking the chance on.

  26. dub

    Think dwight is missing orlando? He looks no more like a star right now than jason thompson does.

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Dwight still looks like a guy working his way back into shape (for him – not the rest of the league)
      That was a long layoff and he came back early – this may not be a season to remember for Dwight – based on his own high standards

  27. Seth

    Love the chats.

    Ignoring the outgoing pieces, who would be a more valuable trade target for the celtics, gortat or cousins?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Gortat for right now impact – can see Gortat just fitting in right away in Boston
      Cousins for the long haul – maybe even by the time this year’s playoffs start – but would have to give up substantially more assets to acquire

  28. Hassan

    i think OKC exposed demar derozan this season , a player who couldnt score at all from anywhere on the floor vs them. Do you think a deal with him and Calderon for Gay and Bayless sound good for both teams, kinda liking Lowry Ross and Gay together

    • Stephen Brotherston

      It’s a possible idea. And Gay is ahead of DD in his development. The price is steep though – Gay makes double DD. Raptors still believe DD is getting better each year – makes it tough deal for them to do.

      The contraction extension makes any deal involving DD really messy this season as well.

  29. Ismail

    Landry Fields is still getting himself back in game shape, but do you think he will get back to his rookie form like many people hoped he would?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Right now, it looks like rust & confidence. Fields was a good shooter thru 4 years of college & his rookie season – he should get back to those levels.

  30. steppxxxxz

    Im starting to find the whole stat thing is getting a bit out of hand. One of the consequences of this near religion built around the 3 pt shot is that foul shooting seems never worse. What happened to those 93% guys? Now josh smith is in year 9, and shoots 50% still. Will there ever be a return to driving to the basket and drawing fouls?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      There are a lot of teams built around the three-point line these days – not all of them have the talent to do it. There are teams that drive and those teams tend to get to the foul line more often. Of course with the way the game is being called – young players on young teams are actually being discouraged from driving as they often do not get the calls (unless they are “stars”) If the league wanted more drives to the basket, they’d do something about this.

  31. Ran

    Is there anyway that Miami can get Kevin Love? Also what do you think could be the best trade for Miami to help them on the boards?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      I understand Minnesota would really like a star SG – would the HEAT give up Wade?
      That would solve the perceived rebounding issue

  32. Kuda

    Welcome Back. I know Casey has Jose running point but night like OKC coming to town I would rather pencil in Kyle as the starter and get Jose come of the bench would you? Peitrus seems to be slow both in offence and D is it time to start Fields? Raptors need a big trading Bargs/Peitris/Kleiza which is going to be hard would help out .

    • Stephen Brotherston

      I am not a fan of Pietrus & Gray in the starting lineup – there just isn’t enough scoring in it & inserting Kyle into the starting lineup would help fix that – risk being he might not pass the ball the entire night playing with that lineup.

      I would like to see Anderson in the starting lineup – as a shooter beside DeRozan’s slashing game.

      I like what Pietrus has brought to the team, but with the current starting lineup, they are asking too much of him.

  33. BC is my father

    Are the raptors going to be buyers or sellers come trade deadline? Or will the raptors stay neutral?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Raptors are currently in a position to be either buyers or sellers – depending on their record/ playoff chances

  34. Don

    Not sure how the numbers work but can you see Bargnani and Lowry going to the Bucks for Jennings and Ilyasova?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Numbers would be close – very interesting idea. Jennings & DeRozan are friends.

  35. robb

    The pacers are the 4 seed without granger. How impressed are you and do you see indy moving granger for a starting 2 guard?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      It is very hard to trade a guy who is injured & no real reason to try at this point.

  36. Steve T.

    Enjoy reading your comments.With trade deadline fast approaching isn’t Calderon the Raptors most likely to deal or do they risk losing him for nothing?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      Losing Calderon for nothing (they could re-sign him in July) creates cap space – which is better than taking on contracts/players who don’t fit or don’t help. We are seeing a lot more of that type of decision under the influence of the new CBA

  37. Tony in Naptown

    Do you see the Pacers doing anything trade-wise? Or do you think they just hitch their wagon to Granger coming back.

    • Stephen Brotherston

      When your team is holding its own waiting for their Star to return – they are more likely to screw things up with a deal than makes things better.

  38. Steve

    Hi Stephen, Have you heard any rumors surroudning the Bucks? Do you see the Raps having any interest in some of the bigs on the Bucks roster that might be avaialble like Gooden, Dalembert, Pryzbilla, or possibly Udoh?

    • Stephen Brotherston

      There have been lots of rumors about the Bucks – there just hasn’t been a lot of substance. They do have extra bodies and Guys they could lose to FA, so it makes sense for them to deal, but they just don’t have to.