NBA Chat With Yannis 10/14/2011

1. Carlos A

   Who would be ay better fit for chicago marcus thorton or oj mayo and why!? Thanks

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Welcome everyone to this week’s chat! Glad to be back after a week off. Let’s get right to the questions.

     At this stage of his career I think that Mayo would be a better fit. Plus, he’s more in need of a scenery change. Although he played well in the postseason, Mayo’s in need of a new home. Had Rudy Gay been healthy I question how much Rudy would have played. All you have to do is look at the trade deadline to see how willing Memphis was to get rid of him. If I was Indiana I’d still be upset over that deal, because McRoberts for Mayo was a no brainer.

2. Raptorman

   Raptors need a SF really bad. Who the Raptors have a better chance of signing; Jeff Green or Thad Young? Who will be the better fit?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Well, neither is really a natural or true small forward first and foremost. It’s really a toss up between the two. If I had to make a choice, I’d probably take Thaddeus Young. Jeff Green wouldn’t be a bad option either. I agree that Toronto is in need of a small forward, especially after what happened to Kleiza.

3. Jake

   If you could pick the fairest deal for both sides of this lockout what would it be?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     We’re talking about an extremely complex deal with an incredible amount of details. There’s no telling how accurate the things we’ve seen are. So, it’s impossible for me to pick one. However, I do think the players deserve at least a 51/49 split without a true hard cap. Increase in the luxury tax is understandable from my perspective. I also don’t want to see guaranteed contracts done away with. That’s something they’ve earned and deserved. I

4. Jake

   Suppose you’re GM of the Magic, what moves do you make to ensure D12 stays?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Realistically speaking, I’m not sure there is a move. The best move would be to undo the midseason trades from last year that brought Hedo back and Arenas in. Those two have contracts that are going to be close to untradable. Smith was probably the one GM in the league willing to take on those deals. It wouldn’t shock me to see one of them get cut with the amnesty clause, if there is one in the new deal. At this point the Magic are just banking on Howard being loyal, but I don’t see how he stays based on the options he is going to have. He wants to win and Orlando will not be the best place for him over the next 4-6 years due to the the pieces Smith has put around him. His best move may be to trade him if he faces the music and realizes that Dwight is probably walking unless the new CBA drastically reduces what other teams can offer him in comparison to the Magic. But even then, Dwight’s still gonna be rich wherever he goes and he’s made it pretty clear that winning is a priority.

5. Lee

   Have you checked out ESPN’s NBA Rank Recently? They have guys like Joakim Noah, Andrew Bynum and Marc Gasol in top 30, and guys like Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan near the top 20. There are plenty of other blemishes, but they seem very blatant. Guys are getting ranked higher because of team play and lifetime achievement. Seriously, they have Joakim Noah like 15 spots ahead of guys like Steph Curry, AND THAT IS A JOKE.

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     First, I hate ranking players period. Even in these chats when I get asked to list my top ten anything – I hate it. It’s hard, unfair to the players and basically impossible to be right. So, to rank the ENTIRE league is a really daunting task and I’m surprised that they were even willing to take it on. With that said, it’s probably time to bum KD and TD down a little bit, especially TD based on the way Gasol and Randolph took it to him on the playoffs because as you pointed out it’s a current list, not a lifetime achievement list. As far as Noah being ranked 15 spots ahead of Curry, I don’t know if I would say that’s a joke. I think that’s someone really respecting Noah and the unique things he brings to the table. And 15 spots ahead of someone on a list of 400+ is not a HUGE gap either, it’s not like they’re saying Noah is 15x the player that Stephen is.

6. Lee

   I’m sure you don’t think the Knicks can get Paul in a trade, and quite frankly neither do i. But if a trade were to happen, what could you see the Hornets receiving in return?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Amar’e or Anthony if they were smart and trying to get equal value, but N.Y. wouldn’t do that. They’d rather wait and try to sign him as a free agent. It’d have to start with Billups, Fields and a few other of N.Y.’s young pieces, but if the Hornets decide to trade Paul he’s going to have to force their hand to send him to N.Y. Otherwise, they’ll send him elsewhere because there will be teams who make far better offers.

7. Jhayee

   can this trade help the 3 team?
   Jameer Nelson $8,600,000 utah
   Ryan Anderson $2,244,601 hawks
   J.J. Redick $6,750,000 utah
   Quentin Richardson $2,446,200 utah

   Josh Smith $12,400,000 orlando
   Zaza Pachulia $4,750,000 orlando
   Marvin Williams $7,500,000 utah
   Jeff Teague $1,579,920 utah

   Al Jefferson $14,000,000 hawks
   Raja Bell $3,240,000 orlando
   Devin Harris $9,319,000 hawks

   tnx…….

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Jhayee, I’d love to answer your question but you have to let me know who is going where in order for me to do that. Judging the three packages overall, I’d say that Orlando’s doesn’t match up talent wise with Utah’s or Atlanta’s. I’d also rank Utah’s slightly ahead of Atlanta’s.

8. Hicksy in OZ

   Gidday From Oz
   Yannis I’m a HUGE SPURS fan and want to know any news? And how do you think they’ll move forward after the GOATPF in Duncan?
   Thanks

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     It’s impossible for there to be any news with there being a lockout in terms of roster moves or anything like that. Some of the guys are playing overseas, but I don’t think that’s the kind of move you’re talking about. They’ll move forward with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili as their corner stones and try to keep Poppovich around for as long as possible, but eventually they’re going to entire a completely new era and it’ll be up to R.C. Buford, and probably Pop who will likely work in the front office, to decide who they want to be moving forward. I don’t think that decision has been made yet. Right now they’re just trying to bridge the gap as much as possible, but it’s impossible to do that completely.

9. Brady T.

   What 5 would you take for an all star game? Id go LeBron-Wade-Durant-Dirk-Howard

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Kobe has a pretty awesome track record in All-Star games and I love watching true point guards surrounded by a ridiculous amount of weapons, so just from a preference standpoint, not saying this five is better, I’d take Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki and Dwight Howard.

10. Nick

    After this lockout is over the Indiana Pacers will most likely be looking to get a PF in Free Agency. My question is Do you think that Nene would be good as a PF for the Pacers even though he is mostly a Center.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      No, I don’t think his skill set meshes well with Hibbert at all. I’d rather see them go after Landry or West.

11. simon

    How can we, the fans, help in this lockout?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Hope and pray. Both sides are aware how upset the fans are and how much angrier they’ll get if a season is lost completely. However, they’re more concerned with getting what they want in a new CBA more so than pleasing the fans, who they believe will eventually get over things and start watching the game they love again. My argument is that if the fans went back to hockey and are supporting it at the high level that they are that basketball fans will definitely do the same.

12. simon

    by the end of their career who will have more rings? dwight or lebron? why?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’m going to say LeBron based on where he is now and the talent surrounding him. No telling what is going to happen with Dwight. If he stays in Orlando I definitely see LBJ having more.

13. simon

    who’s heavier, 20 shaquille o’neils or a jumbo jet?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Depends on what Shaquille O’Neal we’re talking about. Orlando Magic Shaqs weigh less than a jet. Boston Celtics Shaqs, much much closer.

14. dyrese

    i feel like the owners are the ones dragging on this lookout to make fans resent the players but the owners dont get enough attention from the media david stern should be fired as commish he wants the players to become the owners slaves ithink the owners may be paying stern to play hardball until the players either give in or when they destroy their image to make it look like stern and the owners are saving them by bringing the nba back

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      The owners, like any smart owner, are trying to get the best deal possible that nearly ensures a profit. You can’t blame them for that. Put yourself in their shoes as a businessman rather than an upset fan wanting to see his favorite players play.

15. Jacky

    Do you think that the 2012 draft class will better than the 2003 draft? Which players can you potentially see play at lebron or wade level?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I don’t think so right now because we haven’t seen a lot of the freshmen class in action yet at the collegiate level. Maybe it has more depth, but the star power in that 03 class is hard to match. The ’12 class could be pretty good, though. I think that Drummond, McAdoo, Barnes, Jones and a few others could really be big time NBA players.

16. Zach Kag

    Do you think the clippers should get rid of Kaman? and if so, who would you like to see the clippers go after in exchange for Kaman? Gomes had a terrible season and I could see them getting rid of Kaman and Gomes for a decent small forward from a team who needs a better then decent Center. Tayshaun P.? Andre Iggy? Shane B? My wish would be to get Vince Carter… What do you think???

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I take your first three options before Vince Carter. Iguodala would be great, Prince is more of a nice fit from a team standpoint, as is Battier. I think that it may make sense to trade Kaman, not because he’s not a fine player – he is – but they need a small forward more and he’s expendable if they find a way to keep DeAndre Jordan.

17. Ammanuel

    Hey Yannis,
    The glimmer of whatif is still in my mind so I was hoping you would kill it off for me about DWill staying in New Jersey/Brooklyn. He was the first to leave for Turkey instead of settling into the new environs with his wife and newborn, he fired his long-time agent (I thought he’d be the last to do so, really), and he refuses to rest and nurse that bum hand. He’s showing no signs of being invested in his new team or city, no?
    thanks

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      It’s not time to abandon hope. There’s the chance that he could really enjoy himself this season, if there is one, and fall in love with being the figure head of a team going into a new arena in an area that is really going to rally behind him being their savior. Plus, there’s no telling how much a new CBA could prohibit teams other than N.J. from making a run at him.

18. xavier

    Hello Yannis ! Could you see the Spurs go for one last ring if the season is not cancelled ? And beyond this season, do you see them start the rebuilding process nest year or wait until TD stops playing ?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I think the Spurs championship days are done. Too many teams in the West capable of beating them right now. They’d really have to be at their best and playing a stellar level of basketball to make a run now. I don’t see them rebuilding until T.D. is done, they could potentially have cap space as soon as next year.

19. Charlie

    You just agreed the Toronto Raptors are in need of a small forward. Not a fan of James Johnson I guess??? His statline and overall impact the 2nd half of the season was pretty solid. How do you project James as a pro?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      This is going to be it for me for this week folks. Make sure to come back next week at the same time.

      Charlie, I would say that I’m not a big believer in James Johnson as a starter. When he wants to, he can help an NBA team and be a nice option off of the bench. But if he’s my starter I’m actively looking for a replacement. I haven’t been impressed with his lack of improvement since coming into the league.