NBA Chat With Susan Bible 12/17/11

Please join Susan Bible for her NBA Chat each Saturday at 11:00 am EST.   Susan is a Newlines Editor and a member of the fantasy team at HOOPSWORLD.  She covers the Oklahoma City Thunder and the NBA at large.  Drop in your questions now.

  1. David Wallace

    Hello from Scotland again Susan, Just wanted your opinion on whether Reggie Williams would be someone the Thunder should be looking to acquire. I believe he would be an able back-up to Durant and enough of a scoring threat to allow Harden to join the starting group. Thoughts?

    • Susan Bible

      As you surely know by now, the Bobcats signed Reggie Williams to a two-year deal on Thursday; he’s set to have knee surgery that will sideline him for 6-8 weeks.

      The Thunder believes they’ve helped answer the Durant back-up hole by signing Lazar Hayward a few days ago (in exchange for Robert Vaden and two second-round picks). Apparently OKC has been eying him since the 2010 draft. Of course, Hayward’s going to have to prove himself during practice before he gets any court time. His assignment in practice? Guarding Durant.

  2. HoopsNationCA

    No reply necessary: Yay to see moderation of the chat questions!

  3. B-Man

    just where would you rank andray blatche in your center fantasy rankings? does he warrant a higher pick than lets say the defensive centers out there such as chandler, okafor, camby, etc?

    • Susan Bible

      Blatche makes me slightly nervous; about ten days ago he said his shoulder is at about 75-80 percent healthy…though he did predict he’d be fine by tip-off. He posted 16.8 ppg/8.2 rpg/ 2.3 apg/1.5 spg/.08 bpg in 64 games last season. I rank him close to Chandler, solid mid-round. Okafor quite a bit lower, and Camby way lower.

  4. Michael

    its my birthday today by the way! but yea the Clippers obviously have some depth issues at the 2 guard spot, do you see them moving mo williams for a serviceable 2 guard? who’s seems to be available? i say move mo williams and eric bledsoe for kevin martin somehow

    • Susan Bible

      Happy Birthday to you! Del Negro says he’ll start both Billups and Paul in the backcourt with Williams coming off the bench. Billups points out he’s bigger than CP – at 6’3”, he’s actually the same height as Eric Gordon – and can guard the two. They still have Randy Foye ,and even Caron Butler, and Bledsoe can slide to the two at times. And don’t forget about Travis Leslie (signed 12/9) as a wing defender. Bottom line, I think they will find a way to make it work.

  5. Larry Harris

    Can’t understand why no team has sought Dante Cunningham, RFA with Charlotte who put up 9 and 4 for Bobcats late last year. He’s a terrific effort guy who has learned how to shoot and his rebounding has always been solid. With all of Charlotte’s problems, why haven’t they signed him? Or has his agent directed him to a black hole?

    • Susan Bible

      Cunningham seemed to really flourish when Charlotte moved him to a small forward position (he joined them in February). The issue seems to be swingmen Corey Maggette, Derrick Brown and (now-sidelined) Reggie Williams. The Bobcats extended a $1 million (thereabouts) qualifying offer to Cunningham last June. A couple days ago reports indicate he will not take the offer and has, in fact, received a couple offers from teams.

  6. DUBonBULLis

    What do you think about the Bulls adding Rip Hamilton? And is Westbrook going to get that extension now? Doesn’t he qualify for the D.Rose Rule”

    You and Lang have the best chats by the way. Only ones I read.

    • Susan Bible

      Thanks – hope Lang reads that!

      The Bulls were in desperate need of a shooting guard, no doubt, and Rip is a fine choice. However, I am crossing my fingers about his health. I was thinking they should land either Crawford or Hamilton.

      To tell you the truth, I’m surprised Presti didn’t secure Westbrook’s extension on the first day it was allowed. Last week at Media Day, the subject was brought up with just about everyone (here’s my recap: http://www.hoopsworld.com/will-westbrooks-contract-be-extended/), but we learned nothing new really. By all accounts, Russ wants to be here and obviously OKC needs him…are they haggling over dollars? Over term? Does RW want a max deal? Is Presti trying to explain why he needs to save dollars to re-sign Ibaka and Harden next year? I don’t know, but I sure wish it would get done.

      Under the Derrick Rose Rule, the player has to win an MVP, make the All-Star team twice as a starter in their first four seasons or get named to any All-NBA team in their first four years. So Westbrook doesn’t qualify now – he will with another NBA All-Star selection this season.

  7. Chris

    I think that the clippers may end up being the losers in the Chris Paul trade he is a great player but has an injury history and who knows what Eric Gordons ceiling is the guy put up good numbers what do you think

    • Susan Bible

      Always a gamble on health, but don’t forget Gordon played just 56 games last season and 62 games in 2009-10. Chris Paul is the elite of the elite. He appeared in 80 games last year and averaged 15.9 points, 9.8 assists, 2.4 steals (led the league), .878 FT%, 4.1 boards. Gordon is a young, super-talented scoring machine. Last season he posted 22.3 points, 1.9 in three-pointers, .825 FT%, 4.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.9 rebounds. Gordon’s PER was 18.5 vs. Paul’s 23.7. I think the trade works well for both squads.

  8. LSO

    Hey – glad to see you back……????!!
    Have you been to the new Peake Arena yet? Renovation finished? What upgrades did you notice? Any changes to seating? Am anxious for Christmas night & Thunder game!

    • Susan Bible

      Thanks! I did get to look around The Peake earlier this week. The most impressive upgrade, to me, was the lighting inside the arena halls. It makes all the difference. Also, new flooring and signage for the sections and mega-TVs just totally change the feel. You will love it.

  9. Esteban

    Hi Susan! What about OKC-Chicago for the Finals? And how big do you think Cole’s role will be this season? Sorry for odd grammar… I’m spanish! Thanks!!

    • Susan Bible

      Hey, that sounds great to me! And your English is great :) Cole’s future, i.e. minutes, is really up to him. It’s not going to be easy to crack the rotation. He says he spent the summer in Kansas working out hard with Collison.

  10. geneticray

    Ha susan will rockets sign dalembart and what u think of brandon knight of the pistons last night great upside makes him look like a stud in the future

    • Susan Bible

      Nice debut for Knight. He played with confidence and instinct. Irving totally impressed me, too. Promising news Thursday when Morey disclosed negotiations are underway for Dalembert. I think it will get done, especially with viable destinations dwindling.

  11. Steve

    Utah traded their prized Hayward to OKC???
    Nobody told ME.
    Good high reward, quality guy.

    • Susan Bible

      Sure enough. I think it happened like an hour after Media Day on Tuesday, so I didn’t get to meet him. Sounds like he fits the famed “Thunder DNA”. (you meant Lazar, not Gordon, right?)

  12. Nick

    How much you think rondo will avg. How well you think hell do

    • Susan Bible

      Wow…just as I was starting to answer your question, I learned that Jeff Green is out the entire season. Heart surgery imminent…man, I feel for him. I got to know him well in Oklahoma City. He just loves the game so much. The good news is that it’s not career-ending. Rondo did pretty well last year and he was injured a good deal…I’d say 11/11.

  13. matt

    CHI has the best chance at a ring this season. Best team in the league just added Rip. Also, Steve, Susan was telling you the wrong information, Utah did not trade Gordon Hayward to OKC, MINNESOTA DEALT LAZAR HAYWARD TO OKC.

    • Susan Bible

      Dude…check my words. I never said Gordon Hayward…please.

  14. Michael W...

    Can the Heat even bounce back after the dismal performance and talent failure in last year’s finals?

    • Susan Bible

      Whoa…pretty harsh. But yes, they should be more cohesive and stronger this year especially with Battier and a healthy Haslem. Remarkable they got that far really (58-24), and a 4-2 showing in the Finals ain’t shabby.

      Thanks everyone!! Have a great day…enjoy the preseason games!

  15. Steve

    Yes, my mistake for thinking it was Utah’s Gordon Hayward, sorry for the confusion.