NBA Chat With Yannis 1/4/13

Join senior NBA and NCAA analyst Yannis Koutroupis for his weekly chat this Friday Jan. 4 at 8 pm est!

  1. Jerry

    hey man the spurs could really use a franchise big man, how about kawhi, tiago, neal and two first round picks for d cousins, is this a good deal?

    • Bill Ingram

      Can YOU see Cousins playing for Popovich? I think that’s a stretch . . .a BIG stretch.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Welcome everyone to this week’s chat. Sorry I had to bump it back a few hours. Let’s get right to it, lots to get to today.

      Drop Neal and I think it’s something the Spurs should do. That’s a lot of talent to give up, but I truly think Cousins would thrive in S.A. and be exactly what they need to even further extend their championship window.

  2. Jerry

    hello Mr. KOUTROUPIS, in your expert opinion, what player do u think, BIG MAN or perimeter player, do u believe if the spurs were to acquire by trade deadline, could help put spurs over the hump?

  3. Jerry

    hello, is there a college player of euro player u are already thinking could be an excellent spurs player for the 2013 nba draft?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Plenty of guys, but there’s still a long time left in the season and the Spurs’ roster could change so I’m not going to go over specific individuals. Let’s revisit this after the deadline. The Spurs’ pick won’t be very good, so they’ll be lucky to get a role player at the best.

  4. Chris guest

    I hear people saying that there isn’t really a ‘team changing’ player in this years up coming draft.
    I’m look at Zellar, how he plays, his overall well rounded game, great stats and high IQ. Why can he not be?
    Why are people’s views on this draft class different than some others? I look at the stats of some players and they look better than some of the ‘can’t miss’ prospects over the last few years.
    I’m not an expert so I just wanted your opinion.
    Thanks for your time and happy new year to you.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Statistics are deceiving, that’s the first thing you have to understand. Second, draft is all about perceived upside and how much a player can improve. The consensus is right now that this isn’t a good draft, but that’s largely because there’s no franchise-changing players out there. The guys projected toward the top of the draft are talented, but not good enough where they’re projected to be top options at the next level. That can change, but I expect people to continue to bash this class because of their lack of star power.

  5. Danny Two-Step

    Yannis, your chats mean the world to me. At this point, is Bismack Biyombo still considered a project, a flop, or is this who he will be?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      That makes me feel worse for moving it! I still consider him a project, he’s a young guy with lots to learn. Give him another two years before talking about him being a bust.

  6. Timo

    Hallo, what do you think now is the goal for the Magic? A good position in the next draft or first the trade deadline?

    I wish you a happy new year

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I think they need to explore their options at the deadline because the draft isn’t loaded with can’t-miss guys who will make them much better immediately.

  7. Zac

    Portland has 3 second round picks this year. Do you see them using or moving these picks? i think it would make sense to try and package them in a deal for a bench upgrade?

  8. Yannis Koutroupis

    Hi,happy new years

    Which rookies are you looking forward to in the nba next season?

    What inspired you to be a ncaa analyst?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Shabazz Muhammad, Marcus Smart, Ben McLemore, Alex Len, Archie Goodwin, and Anthony Bennett are a few of my favorites. I’ve always had a passion for evaluating talent, watching young players, evaluating what they can do and trying to project their pro potential.

  9. matt

    Warriors are looking surprisingly strong out west, assuming they make the playoffs where would you pick them to land in the seeding?

  10. asaf

    4 team Trade:
    Oklahoma City Thunder gets:
    Andrew Bynum,Courtney Lee,J. Sullinger
    Boston Celtics gets:
    K. Perkins, A. Rivers, H. Thabeet
    New Orleans Hornets
    Kevin Martin, A. Bradley, Fab Melo
    Philadelphia 76ers
    Eric Gordon, Robin Lopez, Kris Joseph

    works under the cap. what do you say?

  11. Homer

    Hey Yannis,
    How serious should the Celtics’ recent struggles be taken? Does a healthy Avery Bradley make that much of a difference?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Not too seriously. If there’s a good deal out there, they should do it – but they don’t need to panic in my opinion.

  12. Peter

    Hey Yannis Happy New Year!
    Will the Celtics break up their core? Obviously it is Rondo’s team now. Without him, the celtics were completely out of sync. A lot of contenders can use a pierce or a garnett.
    2nd question: Rockets are looking great with Harden leading the way. Who do you think is a better player T-Mac in his prime or the current Harden?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I don’t see Garnett being moved. Pierce would really surprise me too. I’d take T-Mac in his prime right now because I watched him kill it for several years. Harden could definitely surpass him, though.

  13. Hooper

    I think it’s possible that Joe Dumars may bring a new Rasheed to the Palace of Auburn Hills by aquiring Cousins for Greg Monroe. The salaries and talent are very similar. Differences Cousins higher upside talent wise, Monroe a solid talent with high character and great work ethic. Pistons have Ben Wallace on speed dial to mentor Cousins and Drummond to finish the 2012-13 season.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I don’t see Monroe being moved by the Pistons, I bet they’d try to get Cousins for Drummond, though.

  14. HoBo

    Waz up Yannis, two questions for you. Is Denver’s Corey Brewer the next Nicolas Batum? Do you think Dario Saric will declare for the draft this year? I’m trying to find a SF for my Cavs.

  15. Deven

    How are the Spurs shooting the ball so well? They just can’t miss!

  16. brendan gibson

    Who will the Suns target this offseason? What should they do now? They’re not playing awful basketball. They’re close to winning a lof of the games they’re losing. I don’t know what’s going wrong. There just seems to be a moment when we switch off.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      They’re a young team, they just need to develop. I want to see this group get some more time before I say who they should or shouldn’t get.

  17. Deven

    What’s your New Year’s Resolution, Yannis?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’m not into new year’s resolutions. I’m all about bettering myself year round, so there’s no reason to look at Jan. 1 any differently than I do every other day of the year.

  18. Deven

    Whenever you watch the Spurs play, do you think they play like the Duke Blue Devils? I mean, both teams are excellent, they rarely turn the ball over, they make their threes, have good penetration, they’re always winning and never make mistakes.

  19. Deven

    Do you know any other coach in the NBA or in college hoops that takes their starter out of the game just 13 seconds into the game? Because clearly, that’s what happened last night when Coach Popovich took out Kawhi Leonard. Why would he do that?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Oh yeah, happens more than you would think. Some players are in the starting lineup because they fit better with the starters.

  20. dinobots

    Who is the better role player now rlewis or ajamison?
    Better over monster defender,mwp or sbattier?
    Better robin ,dwade or d12?
    And who would u take as a leader of ur team if u gona build one to win a championship for only one year… Black mamba or not one not 2 but alot of ring lbj?
    Thanks! Happy new year!

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’ll take MWP right now because he can be physical. Give me D12 because of the way he can impact the game on the defensive end. And, I’ll take Kobe by way of being more proven in championship moments.

  21. the great bambino

    I always hear the words franchise player for life.. they say kobe is one… Then there’s dirk… Jordan played in another team, shaq?? Do i still need to go on… My question.. if frustration boils in dallas because of the genius move to break a champuon core for cp3 ,dwill or d12… Will the mavs let dirk winhis second ring by trading him to the clippz,celtics or maybe the nets…. Okay the lakers is a stretch too… Whats your take?

  22. Peter

    If Lakers keep slumping what do you think of this 3 way trade for them?

    Wolves: Gasol

    Hawks: Pekovic, D. Williams, J. Hill, Buddinger

    Lakers: J. Smith, Ridnour, Stiemsma (cap filler)

    Seems fair all the way around. Hawks don’t want to lose Smith for nothing and can put Horford at his more natural 4 position.

    Lakers get youth, a solid backup pg and just about a lock to keep Howard with his best friend on board. Plus defense would vastly improved.

    Wolves become a tough out come playoff time and show Love their serious about winning. Also Rubio would love to play with him again.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Not a bad deal, but a lot has to happen for the teams to be willing to do this.

  23. tanong

    Who would win if prime bird celts vs prime drob n duncan spurs battle the finals?
    Will itbwork if coach popz coached mj instead of mr.zen?
    Lastly have u seen the david aldridge happy question to coach popz in a game? Rude or funny?
    Thanks

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      That’s a tough one, I’ll go with the Spurs on a coinflip. And it was rude and funny, not one or the other to me.

  24. Nasteedunx

    One of the major disappointments so far in Boston production-wise has been Courtney Lee. Do you think the problem has been spotty usage to this point? He hasn’t been bad when he starts but his outside shot has really been off. I think with Bradley back, the pairing with Lee will help the Celtics’ defensive woes at least in the backcourt.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      He’s definitely not a point. I think he’s got a lot of competition for minutes right now and may be pressing a bit.

  25. JP

    Hi Yannis! Happy new year!
    I just have two questions:
    1) Should Minne push Roy towards retirement?
    I would love to have him healthy still I think that he should stop doing so much harm to his knees. They have suffered in excess and Minne should be working on improving their already settled roster.
    2)Rubio-Shved-AK47-Love-Pek..Ridnour-Barea-Budinger-Williams-Dante..Lee-Stiemsma will be a ring contender team with the proper chemistry, development & time, don´t you think?
    3)Which would be the missing piece in the puzzle for you?
    Thanks!

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      The doctors should determine Roy’s future, nobody else. On your second one, I think they’ll be good but a title contender? Not so sure on that. I think they need a Gasol/Cousins.

  26. Brandon Whitley

    All the trades being mentioned for the Jazz are for players that would help immediately. Like Calderon and Reddick type players. IS it just me that thinks they should trade for future players? Not necessarily for help immediately? I would rather see draft picks come back than those type of players.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      They’ve got plenty of guys for the future on their roster. They’ve got to mix that in with some guys who can help immediately.

  27. Gabriel

    Hi Yannis, greetings from Argentina.
    I see Milsap as a good fit for the rockets, maybe in exchange for montejunas, morris and a pick, the jazz gets young assets and the rockets the upgrade needed at pf. Thoughts?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Intriguing idea, but I don’t think Millsap is going to get them over the hump. I’d look for something else, like a Gay or Cousins.

  28. Joe

    All this trade talk and there is a name no one is talking about outside of trying to help the Lakers. Josh Smith. He wont be traded for Gasol but do you see him being moved at the deadline?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I do not, unless a great deal comes along for a piece they don’t want to pass on.

  29. Sebastian

    It is absurd to think Lakers should trade Dwight Howard fearing that he might not resign with them. Dwight Howard is their franchise player lakers should want to build around once Kobe retires. Where do you think Dwight Howard will be at next season no matter how this season ends.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      It is. Howard just dropped $20 million on a home in LA and they can give him an extra year and $25 million.

  30. Wesley

    What are the chances of Houston getting Josh Smith at some point this season through trade or during the offseason as a FA? Our biggest problem is defense and he seems like the PF most likely to help with that without hurting the offense. OR what do you see Houston doing?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      They’ve got a shot, but I’m not sure he’s who they go after.

  31. jayjay

    So rumor is that Gay is available. I am sure there would be a ton of offers but suspect Memphis wants to save money and get younger. With that as a limitation could Cavs get Gay for the following: Gay = Tristan Thompson, Walton and Gibson (in salary set-off with expiring contracts) and Cavs #1, top 3 protected.
    In essence, TT, #1 and monetary savings for Gay. Feel free to sub in Dion Waters in place of TT

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I don’t think that’s enough for the Grizzlies to give up Gay. I think they’d want more. Perhaps Waiters and Thompson.

  32. luís

    hello Yannis. Despite all his … “achievements” in loony land, do you agree JR Smith is a legit candidate for sixth man of the year?

  33. Baywrrior

    Hello Mr. Koutroupis Good work with the vids… Ok kind of crazy trade but here it goes Toronto gets Pau/Ebanks/DJO Detroit gets Bargnani/Lowry/duhon LAL Prince/Stuckey/Villanueva salary works who’s says no?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Lakers. I don’t think that major shakeup, which is the last thing they need, makes them any better.

  34. Tony in Indy, Indy

    Why doesn’t the NBA tie the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in with All Star Weekend? Saturday would showcase stars past, while Sunday would showcase stars present. It would add such significance to that weekend.

  35. George

    Any thoughts on the Kings long-term future in Sacramento?

  36. LayHee

    If you were starting a team from scratch, rank your preference for these pairs of players: Team #1 Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, Team #2 Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight, Team #3 Rajon Rondo and Jared Sullinger, Team #4 Kemba Walker and Bismack Bioymbo

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Rondon/Sullinger, Irving/Waiters, Monroe/Knight, Walker/Biyombo. First three are pretty close, Walker/Biyombo a distance fourth.

  37. John Carlo Villaruel

    Do you think the Mavs will make it to the playoffs? What can you say about Vince Carter, he is playing great lately

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I do think so, but they’re going to have to turn it up quickly. And nothing I can really say about Vince that hasn’t been said already. The guy is one of the best players in the last decades. He’s a gifted athlete who could really play this game.

      That’s going to do it for me folks. I’ll be back next week!