NBA Chat With Yannis 12/23/2011

Join senior NCAA and NBA analyst Yannis Koutroupis for his weekly chat on Friday December 23rd at 11 am EST. As always basketball questions from all levels are welcomed.

  1. NY

    I really think that Melo could be a good play maker for the Knicks,am i right?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Welcome everyone to this week’s chat. Hope you’re having a good holiday season. Let’s get right to the questions.

      Throughout his career Anthony has never been a big playmaker. He mainly just draws a lot of attention because of how good of a scorer he is, so naturally because of that he does open things up a little bit for everyone else. However, playmaking has a lot to do with a player’s mentality and Carmelo is really a guy with scoring buckets on his mind. If he actively looked to create for others and shoulder some of the distributing duties, I’m sure he’d do just fine. He’s a heck of a basketball player, there’s little he can’t do.

  2. Vito Villegas

    Hi! I’m a Lakers fan and would like to see them win another title this season. What are the chances of Gilbert Arenas playing for my team? As much as I don’t like his attitude, the Lakers really need somebody to spell for Kobe; and Agent Zero should still have some gas left in his tank to light up the score boards. Plus the fact that he may be able to help us land Dwight Howard. I think that with someone of Kobe’s caliber in the team, Arenas’ off-court and locker room antics could be held in check. What’s your opinion?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      It’s a move worth making for the Lakers, especially considering Kobe’s injury and their lack of depth in the backcourt. However, it doesn’t seem to be anything they’re really interested in doing right now. They’ve had plenty of time to come to an agreement with Arenas, who can be had for the minimum or close to it. I wouldn’t overstate Arenas’ ability to help the Lakers land Dwight. Dwight already wants to be a Laker, I don’t think getting Gilbert makes him want to be one more. Who knows, he actually could have the opposite affect. From everything I’ve read it’s Arenas who wants to play with Dwight, not vice versa.

  3. Mike

    What do you think of this trade between Bulls and Lakers: Bulls give up Boozer, Korver, Asik, and the Bobcat’s pick for Pau and Luke Walton? I think the Bulls come out ahead, but it is a win-win for both sides.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’ve seen this rumor circulating around and I’m still not sure I get why the Lakers would swap Boozer for Gasol. They saw Gasol outclass Boozer on a couple of different occasions in the playoffs, it’s a downgrade. Sure the other pieces are ok, but the Lakers have a great shooter already in Kapono and have two big men in Murphy and McRoberts on their bench that could help just as much as Asik in my opinion. Plus, that Bobcats pick is heavily protected. It’d be a few years, maybe more before they ever saw that.

  4. NYK

    I think Mickael Pietrus would fit in well with the Knicks,should they pursue him.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’m curious to see where he ends up. He was in a similar system in Phoenix, just became the odd man out.

  5. Mutang

    Yannis!!! I think I’m even more excited about Utah and it’s future now. I was all set to watch these young kids grow and learn, but now we just acquired a 10m TPE for Memo, simultaneously clearing up all those minutes for our young bigs! KOC said Jazz are going shopping——so for who???

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I look at Utah as a team willing to be a part of any big three-team trade. They’ve got assets that make them a really attractive trading partner. They’ve got young talent at every position now, so I’m not sure who they’re looking to bring in because as the Okur trade indicates, playing the young guys is a priority.

  6. Steven

    would it be good if howard came to cleveland as a free agent, just think young talent, great coach, and lots of cap.. Howard could recruit alot of free agents like p.george, eric gordan, mayo,. Plus when does cleveland get sac first round pick..

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Dwight has zero interest in playing in Cleveland. Why would any superstar want to play for an owner like Dan Gilbert if they had a choice to play elsewhere?

  7. ken

    U see dwight howard going to the lakers i see it. Lakers did not get chris paul cuz nba killed the trade. But the good news on this nba cant kill the trade to lakers. I see hedo turkoglu being in the trade.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Hedo would have to be involved in it, I think. I see D12 as a Laker possible, but it’s less than 50%. The Lopez injury helps the Lakers’ chances.

  8. ken

    U belive this lock out gives boston more a chance cuz they a older team i belive this the last run. I see them facing the heat again maybe in the east finals.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I don’t, simply because they don’t have the depth. I question how well they’re going to be able to handle the major work load they’re about to take on. Boston’s time has come to an end in my eyes.

  9. Jhon

    Where u see dwight howard going i see the lakers . Gasol will have to go to the magic in that trade . But to make the lakers real good dwight would help a lot i see him and kobe wining rings.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I think Bynum is more likely, especially if he keeps playing like he did Wednesday against the Clippers. Plus, no reason to keep Bynum if you get Howard. Can’t play the two together.

  10. Anthony Pascua

    Two questions for you:
    1. Since Lopez will be out for awhile, how much better are the Lakers’ chances that D12 will go to LA now?
    2. Since Pietrus got waived, any chances the Lakers take a look at him as Kobe’s back-up?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      They’re better, but maybe only 5%-10% or so. Lakers roster is full at 15 players right now and Pietrus is reportedly headed to Boston. Don’t see any chance of that.

  11. Jiggy

    I read comments but on contraire I think Gasol gives the bulls a sort of versatility and size they didnt have before but the Lakers dont gain anything….I mean I like Odom better than Boozer..what do you think?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I don’t like Odom better than Boozer, but I do like Gasol a lot more than Boozer. I don’t think that trade has any substance at all.

  12. Adrian

    Hi Yannis!
    Would like to know your opinion about the Spurs… as a Spurs fan i expected they would add some big man but until now we have TD, Tiago, Bonner and Blair (if he can be considered as a center!). Another addition which is for me not so clear is Luke Zeller… what plans do they have with him? Yesterday there was a tweet that Hayes could come to SA but today i read Sacramento got him… is there another big name for us or was that all we can get before season start?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Adrian, keep an eye out for my Spurs’ season preview, which should be coming out any day now. I don’t know what to expect from the Spurs this season to be honest. I can see them being pretty good and pretty bad as well. They’re awfully thin up front. Zeller won’t play much, he’s been a bust since high school. Maybe the Spurs try to get Kenyon Martin, but he can’t play till March. There’s not much else out there, certainly no big name.

  13. Mark in Burlington

    With all the excitement about this years’ frshmen class it seems people are forgetting about Perry Jones. I haven’t actually seen him play this year but he’s putting up impressive #’s and his team is undefeated. Do you think he has a chance at #1? Shout out to Brady Heslip!!!

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I wrote the exact same thing a few weeks ago after his first game. I think Perry’s got a chance, but he’s really gotta perform well when it matters the most to make that happen. Drummond and Davis are coming on strong now too.

  14. Mark

    My Raps need a SF. Barnes is the big name but this Kidd-Gilchrist dude looks like the truth to me? He is so smooth. Will he be there with the 5-7 pick?

  15. ejhay

    can miami get pietrus when he clear the waiver? can miami get fesenko and arenas?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Miami can get whoever they want at the veteran minimum, but Pietrus appears to be on his way to Boston.

  16. ejhay

    can miami trade mario chalmers and second round pick of 2012-2013 for al jefferson?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      No, gotta send more salary to Utah to make that happen. They’re not looking to just completely dump Jefferson, though.

  17. Shad

    Yannis do you think the Jazz will use their trade exception they received for trading Okur this season?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I think they’ll try to, but there a few teams with exemptions now that are looking to use them.

  18. Bryan

    Do u thinks the spurs will still amnesty jefferson next year when duncans contract will expire? As a small market team they are not exactly a ideal destination for free agents. Who do u think they will realistically get?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’d be shocked if they didn’t. Honestly, I’m shocked he’s still a Spur now to be honest with you. Despite being a small market team, their history and dedication to winning should help them get somebody good next year, although they probably won’t get the top guys. All the sudden having cap space doesn’t sound like a great thing for the Spurs after they missed out on all of their top targets this offseason outside of T.J. Ford.

  19. David

    Aren’t people underestimating the Magic with the team they have and what they can do this season with Howard still there?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      No. That team can’t win a championship and will lose in the second round to Miami or Chicago. They probably couldn’t even beat Atlanta.

  20. Mark

    Do you think DeRozan can make another leap this season? Does he have All Star potential in your mind?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’m expecting him to and I’ve always felt like he has all-star potential. However, a lot of players do – only few tap into it. We’ll see how things for for DeMar this year, I think Casey helps bring the best out in him.

  21. James Ruiz

    Laker Fan here, Are the Deron William to the Lakers trade rumors true?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      There’s 0% chance of the Nets trading Deron until Dwight’s situation gets figured out.

  22. Austin powers

    I am a huge bulls fan. Do you think the bulls have enough to make it to the finals? Rip looked real good in his debut. Even though it was a exhibition. If they play like that, they won’t be easy to stop. Plus they have the deepest team in the league and play great D. What do you think?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      There’s no doubt about it, the Bulls have a great shot. They’re an excellent team that is well coached. Staying healthy is key for them. I’ll be interested to see how they do against the HEAT in a rematch. I’d still have my money on Miami.

  23. Austin powers

    I thought D12 didn’t want to follow the Shaq’s shadow. Why no interest in Chicago?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      This is going to be my last one folks. I’ll be back next week at the same time!

      Despite the fact that Shaq has been a Laker, they’re still an attractive destination. That’s where some of the league’s best big men ever have played. Plus, they’d really become his team. That wouldn’t be the case in Chicago.