NBA Chat With Yannis 12/16/11

Senior NCAA and NBA analyst Yannis Koutroupis will be hosting his weekly chat at 11 am EST on Friday December 16th. As always basketball questions from all levels will be welcomed.

  1. Anthony Pascua

    As far as the Lakers, who else would be a solid pick up for the team. Is Arron Affalo available? Any news on who they will attempt to pursue besides D12?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Everything I’ve heard has AA going back to Denver. The Lakers showed some early interest, but with their mini-mid level gone I don’t see them being able to get him unless Denver wanted to sign and trade him, which is doubtful. They need to keep him based on what they lost out on the perimeter. I really like the idea of them bringing in Troy Murphy. As long as he’s healthy, he can help. No idea who else is on their wish list outside of Dwight, just know he’s the main guy.

  2. Navid

    Hi Yannis, I love the CP3 trade. I see this combo as a upgrade of Nash/Amare. but, dont you think the roster needs a backup center, real soon? I mean, if Jordan gets hurt, the only one who can play that position, is Griffin.
    Clippers have enough room to pay a solid backup center. Who do you think they should get?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Anyone will do really. Apparently they want someone who is going to be physical, so Erick Dampier makes sense. Reggie Evans is rumored as well. They’re in a position now where they just need someone serviceable there, not a standout.

  3. dzei

    what do u think of current roster of the kings??? will they make noise this season in the west???

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I really thought they had the potential to do so last year and it didn’t happen, but maybe this is the year. They’ve got some real talent on the team, it’s just all about them coming together and doing what is necessary down the stretch in order to win ball games. That’s been something that has really hurt them under Wesphal, not being able to make the right plays late to get w’s.

  4. Nir

    hey yannis, which free agents the phoenix suns target for the next season and what is the chances that they land there?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Hey everyone, welcome to this week’s chat! Let’s get right to the questions.

      They’re obviously going to need some help at point guard and small forward because I’m pretty sure Steve Nash and Grant Hill will be moving on. They’ll have plenty to choose from, but they’re probably going to have to overpay because the most attractive thing about playing in Phoenix was playing with Nash. That’s gone now.

  5. shortfuse

    Hey, Yannis.

    Any chance the Pacers make a move on EGordon, perhaps for DGranger, before the trade deadline? Or do you see them making their push over next summer?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Good luck dealing with the New Orleans Hornets. They wanted five of Houston’s top six players for Pau Gasol and got everything they could for Chris Paul. I don’t see any more major moves from them. I think they’re looking at a smaller scale move, like the one that would have netted them O.J. Mayo. Unfortunately, they just can’t work things out to get him.

  6. Zico, India

    Hey yannis… Why don’t the Lakers try and pull off a blockbuster deal with Orlando, Minnesota and include Houston too by sending Gasol to Houston, Bynum and some picks along with the $8.9mil exception to Orlando, Lakers acquire k. love from Minnesota. Minnesota get k-mart, Dragic and some picks while scola heads to Orlando. Off course some minor player moving to make it work and picks too… what say??

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Orlando doesn’t have interest in trading Dwight Howard right now and Minnesota has even less interest in trading Kevin Love, so chances are incredibly slim of that happening.

  7. Jiggy

    Why did the LAC bring in Billups if they need a shooting guard and a back up big?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Because there was no certainty at the time that they were going to get Chris Paul and if you have a chance to get Billups you do it. I can see him playing in the backcourt with Paul. Both of them are tough enough defensively to where I think VDN can get away with having them defend two guards.

  8. Jiggy

    Do you think the Memphis will see how its backcourt turns out and make some trades since they are loaded in the backcourt?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Logical decision. They’ve been looking to add another big man for awhile now, I could see them making a move if something good comes along.

  9. EJ Garza

    can you explain ‘trade exceptions’? like the one L.A. got for Lamar Odom

    Also, will you play in my fantasy league?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      They’re actually called exemptions and it’s basically like trading an expiring contract. For instance, the Lakers’ exemption for Odom is $8.9 million, so they can use that or any part of it to absorb a player who fits in that price range. And, sorry, I’m not a big fantasy basketball guy. Too much maintenance for me. I always lose interest midway through.

  10. B-Man

    aside from jamison, is there any other player out there whose main trade value is his 8 digit expiring contract?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      There are plenty of expiring contracts, you can find them all on our free agent 2012 article.

  11. Chicago Charles

    Can an NBA team like Chicago, which has already exceeded their cap do a sign and trade to get a player they need and if they only had 12 players signed on the team how many ways could they fill the other empty roster spots? What are the limits to filling those empty roster spots?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      They can sign as many players as they want for the veteran minimum. For right now they can still be involved in sign and trades as well.

  12. John Collins

    The Atlanta Hawks have to all star caliber Power Forwards. Why haven’t they tried to trade one of the two for and elite point guard or big man.

    Quick second question. Why did the pistons resign Small forward Prince. I thought they were going with the youth movement.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I think the Hawks have someone special in Jeff Teague. I really believe he’s going to do great things at the point guard position for them. They’re shopping around but they’ve got great chemistry. It’s one of their strengths, so they’re going to be hesitant to mess with that. As for Prince, they obviously value him still and feel like he’s the right guy to serve as a leader for a young team.

  13. ian

    could t.outlaw be a nice fit as a backup sf for bulls playing for vet.min?
    what are bulls searching as a replacement for kurt thomas?Przybilla,murphy or kenyon martin after march?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Outlaw isn’t a bad fit anywhere as a backup for the minimum, although I’m sure he’s going to search for somewhere where he can start. As for replacing Thomas, I’m betting that the Bulls just look to Gibson and Asik to handle his minutes. He was only called on sparingly anyway.

  14. Shawn

    Are there any decent big men on the market the Spurs can get assuming they amnesty RJ and sign a free agent and/or use McDyess’ expiring contract as a trade chip? We have to get bigger to contend in the West

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      They were keeping a close eye on the Kaman situation with the Clippers because they had hopes of acquiring him. Those are gone. Some were hoping for a sign and trade with Nene, but that was always a long shot too. Spurs are in a tough position right now. There aren’t many quality bigs that can help them win a championship on the market. They’re going to have to work with what they have for now. Looks like they’re gonna keep RJ. This offseason was tough for the Spurs. They lost out on all their top free agent targets. Caron Butler spurned them for the Clippers, Josh Howard went to Utah. That’s kind of forced them to keep RJ around by default.

  15. George

    Fields for Bledsoe, Knicks get a young talented point guard and the Clippers a starting shooting guard. M. Redd to the Knicks likely?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Knicks have their talented young point guard already in Iman Shumpert. There are rumblings about Redd going there, but nothing concrete yet.

  16. Pynchon

    Do you also find it amusing that not on media outlet (eg espn) has mentioned Dirk and yet we all still hear about durant and lebron nonstop?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I haven’t noticed the lack of coverage, but then again I haven’t been watching for it either. Everyone saw the Finals last year, though. They know who the best team is and they know that Dirk is the toughest player to defend in the league right now.

  17. Curtis Cox

    Do the spurs have plans for the 5 spot? Isn’t Fesenko available. I see thatas a nice fit. Your thoughts?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      This is going to be my last question folks. Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday season!

      They’re on their backup plans right now after missing out on Kaman, who they’ve eyed for awhile. Fesenko is someone they’ll look at I’m sure, along with a handful of other big men. Right now, though, they’re probably debating on who would actually be an upgrade because they want to give minutes to Blair and Splitter.

  18. Andrew

    CP3 will lead the league in assists this year baring injury?