NBA Chat with Stephen Litel 5/22/2012

1. calvinzero

   Is this the proper time to make a blame game to the Lakers management after their back-to-back 2nd round defeats in the last 2 years? As an analyst, what do you see to the Lakers for at least next season?

   • Stephen Litel

     Hi, everyone! Welcome to this week’s chat! Hit me up on Twitter @stephenlitel if I don’t get to your question. Let’s get to it…

     There are going to be changes in Laker land this off-season for sure. Some believe Gasol is going to be gone and some believe Bynum will be out. I would be willing to be they try again to make a Dwight Howard trade, but he’s stated in the past he doesn’t want to go there.

2. Roon

   If I were Rich Cho, here is how I would move forward with the Bobcats: 1) Take Davis with the #1 pick and market him heavily. 2) Let the contracts of Corey Magette and Desagna Diop expire following the 2012-2013 season. 3) Amnesty Tyrus Thomas following the 2012-2013 season (with hopes he has a good season and improves trade value). 4) Tank another year and land another top 3 pick. Steps 2 and 3 would clear over $25 million in cap room for the Bobcats. Then in 2013 have Jordan personally recruit North Carolina native Chris Paul to join the Bobcats. Paul said last April that signing with the Bobcats would be something that he would think about because MJ is his mentor and he has a contract with Jordan Brand. Any chance that Paul plays for the Hornets once more, except it being the Charlotte Hornets this time around?

   • Stephen Litel

     There’s definitely a lot of good things from what you put out there, Roon. The only real problem I see is the final portion regarding Chris Paul. Despite being swept out of the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs, Paul is quite happy in Los Angeles and I don’t see him going to the Bobcats…even with MJ being there.

3. Jasen

   What is Tristan Thompson’s upside? In reviewing his numbers they are comparable to fellow Longhorn LaMarcus Aldridge’s rookie stats. Also, you see the cavs being a player with Mayo or Crawford in FA? Thanks.

   • Stephen Litel

     Definitely a solid rookie season for Tristan Thompson for sure, but I don’t see him becoming an All-Star or anything at that level. That’s not to say he won’t have a good, long, productive career, but I see him as a Carl Landry-esque player.

     The Cavs could make a play for Mayo for sure, but I don’t see Crawford ending up there.

4. Azzar Nadvi

   My man. Bynum is a great player and still room to grow. i love this guy. my only problem is that the lakers are slow and in need of athleticism. any chance lakers and magic re-open bynum + filler for Dwight talks? i hear orlando might trade him to avoid drama anyway. and Brook Lopez has been injured most of the year, your thoughts?

   • Stephen Litel

     As I briefly mentioned earlier, I’m sure the Lakers and Magic will re-open discussions if Howard doesn’t sign his extension before the draft. The problem on Orlando’s end is Howard doesn’t want to go there, so he still holds a lot of power, if not most of it.

5. Sir Charles

   What kind of package would Orlando want for dwight? 1. Bosh, Chalmers 2. B. Lopez, Brooks, pick 3. Bynum, Sessions

   So how many years in a row are you media members gonna give Kobe a pass? The dude chucks shots up like he’s M.J. but he only makes like 42%. I still stick with my assessment that if LBJ chucked game winners up like kobe, he would’ve made just as many.

   • Stephen Litel

     Of the three options you gave, I would think Orlando would go for the Bosh/Chalmers trade. In reality, they would want better than that though.

     Not sure which media members you think “give Kobe a pass” since I, personally, have been incredibly hard on Kobe throughout the years. Kobe needs to adjust his game dramatically if he ever wants a chance to win his sixth ring.

6. matt

   When do you see Ricky Rubio making his First All Star Appearance? It cant be anytime soon with

   James Harden
   Eric Gordon
   Stephen Curry
   Tyreke Evans
   Ty Lawson

   all those guys will be challenging for a spot for the next decade.

   How Will Rubio make it?

   • Stephen Litel

     Ricky Rubio is a point guard MADE for an All-Star game. You’re probably right that he won’t be voted in by fans, but there will be plenty of coaches who would love to have him run their mid-season squad. Could you imagine a scenario of Rubio running down the middle of the court with Durant on one side and Kobe on the other? Rubio may very well set the All-Star game record for assists in a game.

7. blue

   Will Damian Lillard be a better scorer in the NBA than Kyrie Irving?

   Irving averaged 18.5PPG this season which rookies next season can score more than that?

   • Stephen Litel

     Lillard should be a very solid pro, but I don’t see him getting to Irving’s level. Irving is amazing and he’s still so young…

     With the draft class coming in, it’s difficult to see any of them scoring more than Irving did this year.

8. Jeff (Toronto)

   There has been talk about NOH possible amnesty for Okafor. I dont understand. He is still a pretty solid player, defends, rebounds, no? A player like that has value. Am i missing something?

   • Stephen Litel

     Yes, you’re missing something…his $12,541,812 price tag. That’s a lot of money for a player who isn’t THE MAN on your team. Okafor has value, but not THAT much value.

9. Matt

   Whats a moree important get for the Wolves this off season? A two guard who can shoot the 3 or a defensive minded big to protect the rim?

   • Stephen Litel

     A two-guard who can shoot the three. Yes, Pekovic isn’t a “defensive-minded big to protect the rim,” but he is more than adequate at the center position. The Timberwolves would have won more games if they had a two consistently capable of hitting outside shots. That is their priority.

10. Matt

    Thoughts on the new Nets logo?

    • Stephen Litel

      It’s a little boring for my taste. However, that merchandise is going to fly off shelves.

11. Cain

    How good can Klay Thompson be?

    • Stephen Litel

      A more than solid rookie season for Klay Thompson this year. His ability to hit shots is a perfect fit with Golden State. The problem is what if he ever ends up with another squad…can he play a half-court game? The jury is still out on that.

12. Truth teller

    Should the lakers move pau and sessions? I mean
    They aren’t getting the job done and Kobe need a serious 3rd option and defensive pg that can hit open 3s. Pau is very talented
    But has the aggressiveness of an infant .

    • Stephen Litel

      With some thinking Gasol should go and others saying Bynum, I am personally in the camp that Gasol should go. When the Lakers made their decision between Shaq or Kobe, one of the main factors was the fact that Kobe was the younger of the two. Well, Bynum is the younger of the two between he and Gasol. Plus, Pau would bring more back in a trade.

      I also think you have to give a slight pass to Sessions since he was learning on the fly. For quite a while there, Laker fans were loving Sessions. Give him a training camp.

13. Homer Sampson

    Greetings Stephen! any shockers on the all rookie teams? mine would be Derrick Williams.

    • Stephen Litel

      Although I was able to watch Williams close up all season since I’m in Minny, I was a bit surprised to see Williams get the second team nod. If there hadn’t have been an inordinate amount of players on the first team and they shifted to the second team, Williams probably wouldn’t have been there.

14. tim

    better line up?…..
    pg thomas
    sg evans
    sf h.barnes
    pf thompson
    C cousins

    or

    pg thomas
    sg thornton
    sf kidd-gilchrist
    pfthompson
    C cousins

    • Stephen Litel

      This is easy to me because I evaluate Kidd-Gilchrist higher than Barnes in terms of overall game…and I like Thornton’s game over Evans. So, the second squad would be the one I roll with.

15. Moe S

    Do you think Andrea Bargnani could make the 2012-2013 All Star Reserves? I believe he certainly has a chance if the Raptors can pick up some wins.

    • Stephen Litel

      The only way he has a chance is if the Raptors win significantly more games. I don’t see that happening next season, unfortunately.

16. Zel

    Who do you feel the suns should take with the 13th pick?

    • Stephen Litel

      Many mock drafts have Jared Sullinger going in that range of the draft and I think he would be an excellent fit in Phoenix. They need more depth in the post and he may very well develop into their starting power forward for years to come.

17. MOOSE

    Your thoughts on the Spurs domination in the playoffs? What’s your prediction for the WCF?

    • Stephen Litel

      The Spurs have been amazing in the postseason. I think they defeat the Thunder in six…and then are crowned NBA champions soon after.

18. hank

    Love for Griffin solves both teams pick and roll strategies. Love is better but the wolves generate more dollars and interest don’t they? Does the trade have merit?

    • Stephen Litel

      OK, everyone…last question for this week’s chat!
      

      I just threw up in my mouth a little bit. Kevin Love is significantly better than Griffin, although Blake does have more athletic ability. I’ve seen amazing development in Love’s game throughout his career…and little to none from Griffin during his. This trade should and would be shot down immediately by Minnesota.

      Thanks for taking time out of your busy week to submit a question to my chat, NBA fans. I appreciate you! As always, hit me up on Twitter @stephenlitel anytime to chat hoops!

      Until next week…