NBA Chat With Yannis 12/28/12

Join Yannis Koutroupis for his weekly chat this Friday Dec. 28 at 11 am est!

  1. Robert

    This seems like a fair trade to me. What do you think?

    Toronto Receives: Paul Millsap, C. Parsons, S. Machado
    Houston Receives: Demarcus Cousins, John Salmons
    Sacramento Receives: Al Jefferson, P. Patterson, D. Moniejunas
    Utah Receives: Andrea Bargnani, J. Calderon, J, Fredette, and draft picks to be decided

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Welcome everyone to this week’s chat. Let’s get right to it so I can get to everyone.

      That’s a pretty monster deal and any deal that size is highly unlikely. With that said, there’s some logic behind certain parts of it, but I don’t see any way it could ever really be seriously considered. Too many parts. Utah’s package is a deal breaker, that’s not enough for their two best big men.

  2. Deven

    What should the Kings do with DeMarcus Cousins?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      The Kings have such bigger issues than DeMarcus Cousins, like a lack of talent, local support and a potential move. Cousins is just being focused on because he’s been a problem in the past and he doesn’t do himself a lot of favors. Honestly, I think he’s such a rare talent that they need to focus on putting the right pieces around him. They haven’t done so yet. I guarantee you if they trade him he’s going to go on to make them regret it for many years to come. That’s why there will be a lot of hesitancy for them to do so.

  3. Deven

    When will Andrew Bogut come back?

  4. Chris

    Who says no?

    Wolves get: Alec Burks, Raja Bell

    Jazz get: Jose Calderon, Linas Kleiza

    Raptors get: Derrick Williams, Marvin Williams

    Solves wolves sg issues, Jazz pg issue, and Raptors sf.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      The TWolves. They were high on Burks around the draft, but he hasn’t done much since. That’s not enough to give up Derrick Williams for.

  5. Deven

    What’s the secret to the Thunder getting to the free throw line very often? How do they do it?

  6. Deven

    Are the Thunder the team to beat, or are the Spurs, Clippers and I guess the Lakers, still in the mix?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      They’re all still in the mix, but the Thunder were the best team last year and are still very good this year. Too good to say they’re not the team to beat.

  7. Deven

    Why are the Heat not getting Ray Allen more involved?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Evolving process. He’s a big part of what they are trying to do, rest assured.

  8. Peter

    Hey Yannis! The Spurs’ window of winning a championship is closing rapidly. The big 3′s contracts are expiring soon, do you think they would be willing to take a huge pay cut to stay with the team and allow the organization to use the money to sign younger star players?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      It’s funny, we’ve been saying that since 2007 now. I agree, but it clearly hasn’t closed as quickly as we thought it was going to. Look at the big threes track record with taking less. They are more than willing to.

  9. HoBo

    Waz up Yannis, Are the Thunder really satified with the play of their centers? Perkins does not look anything like he did when he was with Boston and Thabeet is no better than an 8 to 10 minute relief at best.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I find it hard to believe that they are. However, I’m not sure what they can do to upgrade there. I think they’re better off keeping those guys cause they will need them and just playing more small ball until that time comes.

  10. LA in LA

    I read on NBA.com that NBA people don’t see Cody Zeller as having a high ceiling, so I’m surprised he’s in contention for #1 pick

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Product of it being a down year in terms of star prospects and the fact that Zeller produces at an undeniable rate. When you’re as skilled, big and productive as he is, you’re going to climb.

  11. Peter

    Hey Yannis~ 2 Questions: Avery Johnson is out who do you think will replace him? Zen Master and SVG said no to the job. I would LOVE to see Jeff Van Gundy coach the Nets :)
    Which coach will be fired next?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I think Randy Wittman is next on the block. Frankly I’m surprised Mike Brown and Avery got the boot first. As far as who replaces Avery, I think Phil Jackson.

  12. Wes

    Who says no? (throw draft picks in either way)
    Hou – Patterson, Greg Smith, and Montejunas
    Sac – Cousins

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Sacramento should, although I think they’d consider it. I don’t buy the talk that the Rockets aren’t interested in Cousins. He’s exactly the kind of guy they should be going after. It’s high risk, high reward, but I love Cousins’ game and would take that risk 10 times out of 10.

  13. knicks champzzzzz

    I was watching the lakers in staples and over heard a guy saying hey mitch why not pull out a nash and get dirk. Mitch smiled. Will frustrations lead dirk wanting out? Cuban is the reason he won one but cuban is also the reason he didnt in back to backs…. Amare for dirk?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I doubt we’ll ever see Dirk in anything other than a Mavericks jersey in the NBA.

  14. ralph lawrence

    Hello Yannis! lots of DMC talks going on.. Do you think DMC gets traded this season? I know there are a lot of teams that is interested in Cousins but what is the most realistic trade that sac could get out of cousins? and do you think that detroit is still interested in cousins? I know they have been interested with him since day 1 and if that is the case is it fair to trade cousins for monroe heads up? for me personally that would be a great trade for both teams unlike the other trade scenarios being mentioned out there for cousins exchanging him for bunch of crap type of players.. your thought?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’m not sure if Detroit would be willing to do that, mainly because they love Monroe and Cousins doesn’t make them much better. Maybe they’d give up Drummond and a guard, that’s something I consider more likely. Sacramento, if they were to trade Cousins, need to get young talent in return. Drummond would be a target of mine if I’m trying to move Cousins.

  15. Brian

    I was wondering your thoughts on Jeff Green, I dont think ive ever seen a more overrated player, he road the coattails of durant & westbrook leading okc’s ascension & when traded to Boston he played terrible, then missed an entire year, and they still gave him $9 mil per year. it makes no sense that he gets $9 mil instead of maybe $2 mil, just because he seems to have an inordinate amount of respect for going to georgetown & being with okc when they rose up. he avg’s 9.7 pts & 3 rebs & he gets $9 mil per year. I would ask what other team would pay him anywhere near that but I’m sure there wouldve been a few throwing around that kind of money if Boston didnt, why?? I find that contract mindbogglingly bad.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Look what the guy has been through over the last year. My father had that same procedure. It’s no joke, it’s a scary, tolling operation. Green is still a young player who has proven he can play at a high level in this league. He just has to find his way in Boston. It’s still early on in the year. I thought they overpaid a bit at the time, but we haven’t seen Green at his best yet. It’s not fair to judge him just off of what he’s done right now. Be patient and give it some time.

  16. Jim in CyberSpace

    My theory is that the Clipper’s Blake Griffin draft choice has changed the Franchise good or bad like no one.
    The franchise has a long history of….Sterling not giving a rat’s backside?
    Suddenly it’s a place where guys want to play?
    How does Sterling mess it up?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      By trying to be too involved. He just needs to write the checks and listen to the guys he has in the front office.

  17. Aristotle

    Hey Yannis
    Belated Merry Christmas to you and your fam.
    Safe to say Coach Sloan doesn’t sign with the Nets? LOL, but can you see though any teams he might be a good fit for that are struggling?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Thanks! I think the Nets would be foolish not to contact Sloan and gauge his interest level. However, it doesn’t seem like that is in the cards. I’ve heard Sloan is interested in coaching again. Any team would be lucky to have him.

  18. Aristotle

    Heya Yannis
    As much as I love Wade on and off the court (being a HEAT fan), I believe he should of had more than a one game suspension for what he did to Sessions. I also still believe what he did to Rondo was deliberate (I know this cause I used to play that way).
    Do you believe he deserved more? And does the NBA need to take more serious stances on such fouls…like World Peace’s “accidental” flying elbows.
    Minimum 5 games plus the wages per game they would of received?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Hey may have deserved more, but not much. I don’t think there’s any changes needed to the current policies in place.

  19. Sven

    Hi Yannis. Have you got any insights on Cousins behavior ? I remember him getting a “Misunderstood-tattoo”, but what is really up with him. Is he desperate to win and too emotional about it or just plain old trouble

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      He’s wallowing in a bad situation. It’s hard to succeed there in Sacramento right now. Cousins isn’t the root of all their problems. Cousins isn’t a problem in the sense that he’s going to be an issue wherever he goes. He’s just a passionate, opinionated player who can’t be stifled or told to do things without there being an open dialogue.

  20. Julian

    Do you think a Varejao and 1pick is a good deal for D.Cousins? they get a big playing good basketball and more assets to rebuild or go after another player and Cavs put a Kyrie and Cousins duo that can be very good in the future

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I really like that idea. Don’t think that’s a bad offer for Cleveland either.

  21. steve

    what do you think of this three team trade: OKC gets Andy V BOS gets Perkins CLE gets Suli, Lee, BOS 1ST, Lamb, and TOR 1ST.

  22. Steve

    Who says no Cle moves one of their expiring contracts ( Walton or Gibson )to Denver for W. Chandler. Denver would save about 20 million and still have Brewer and Hamilton to play the same position.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I don’t think Denver is ready to just give away Chandler like that.

  23. Kirby Rice

    What is your opinion of the cavs rebuilding process? what do you think of Kyrie and Dion? lasty will the cavs trade Andy this year?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      It’s progressing. I like Dion and Kyrie. I do think they’ll trade him.

  24. JDC

    Are Hamilton and Kirk movable?! can you get something for them? A Dudley, Beasley, Mozgov, W. Chandler… something!

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Everyone is moveable, but I don’t see them getting much at all for them.

  25. Timo

    Hello from Germany. How good can Nik Vucevic become? Is he an 10/10 Player or better?

  26. reynald

    is there a possibility that gasol may be trade before the trade deadline???

  27. robb

    With the Pacers climbing all the way back to the 4 seed without granger. Do you see them making a move? I think they still need a shooter.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      They have to be open to it. I definitely think their recent success makes it less of a pressing issue, though.

      That’s going to do it for me this week folks. I’ll be back next week at the same time!