NBA Chat With Yannis 12/30/2011

Join senior NCAA and NBA analyst Yannis Koutroupis for his weekly chat at 11 am EST on Friday December 30th! As always basketball questions from all levels are welcomed.

  1. rodney

    after the horrible, horrible horrible showing that the Nets have been playing, how can dwight even think about asking to be traded to nj without calling fegan and demanding him to block all calls from nj.

    Dwill looked horrible last night and even with dwight being traded there, there cap space would be booked between max contracts between Dwight Dwill, with turk and duhon’s worthless contracts, considering that both turk and duhon would have to be included inorder for that trade to go through.

    How can Dwight see the future of nj without barfing in his mouth the next time he says i want to be traded to the ne ne ne barrffffffff.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Welcome everyone to this week’s chat! Hope you’re having a great holiday season, let’s get right to the questions.

      I’m with you Rodney and have been for awhile now. I don’t see the great appeal in New Jersey right now. The pieces just aren’t there. Dwight would be better off becoming a free agent than forcing himself there. Of course, he would make them a lot more attractive and improved, but still it’d take them awhile just to get to the same level where the Magic are now. When Dwight makes his move, I believe he’s going to do so to make a move up, not backwards or lateral.

  2. rodney

    also how do you feel about this 3 team trade

    orl gets Gasol iguodala and lou williams

    la gets Nelson Dwight and Turk

    Phili gets Bynum and jj

    Orl stays competative with moving Gasol to center and having a reliable point guard and a defensive presence in iguodala

    la gets there starting point guard they need badly a space the floor 3 in turk and dwight enough said

    phi gets a young center they wouldnt have otherwise that when healthy could do damage in the east and could help evan turner out alot plus they get a good role player/starter in jj

    in my opinion it works for all teams involved

    what do you think

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Interesting. Lakers obviously want to hold onto one of their big men while the Magic would like both, but that deal isn’t too bad at all.

  3. Johnnie

    What Pgs will be available at the deadline and who can the Lakers get?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      It’s too early to tell, they could have a shot at Jameer Nelson and Deron Williams, maybe even Mo Williams depending on what kind of role he has with the Clippers. This is one of those situations that is going to have to play itself out.

  4. Focuslja

    After watching the first two games, Charlotte seems to be alot better than advertised. To me, their most glaring hole is bench scoring from the G/F position. With Reggie Williams being injured, I was wondering how you feel about us adding a bench wing? And also, who are some on the market we could add to cover that until Williams returns?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      It’s early, I have a feeling things are going to come to a halt in Charlotte and reality is going to set in because on paper this is just not a very good basketball team. Jordan obviously needs to make a signing or two, we’ll see if he does it or not. I think a lot of credit has to go to Paul Silas. He’s really done a stellar job at getting these guys to buy into to his system and play hard. It’s working right now, but count me pessimistic about how things will be in the future.

  5. Nick

    Do you think the Cavs will trade Varajeo, Sessions or Jamison this year? Do you think we can get a 1st rounded for any of them?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Those are all guys who I could see teams being willing to give up a first round pick for. This is a good draft to have multiple picks in as well with all the talent that is going to be available. If I’m Cleveland, now’s the time to trade Sessions and Jamison. Varejao may be the one the hold onto.

  6. Lazeric

    Yannis my man TGIF!! Just wondering if DH12 would opt into the following year of his contract would a package of Westbrook/Perkins/Thabo get done?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      That package isn’t bad, but I think that the Magic can do better. Plus, they’d need to clear some room in order to make the necessary playing time available for Westbrook. Nothing against Westbrook either, but if that deal gets done I think Orlando takes a bigger step backwards than they’re looking to.

  7. Steve H

    That Westbrook hasn’t been extended means asking for more than Presti wants to pay. Odds on Russ & Thabo or Mohammed(salary match) for Rondo & draft pick? Rondo’s salary would let OKC keep Harden & Ibaka.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Interesting idea, I don’t think that OKC is at the point where they want to do that yet. Despite how poorly Russel and KD may be getting along, they win games together and are tough to stop. You always have to be hesitant to break up a duo like them.

  8. Aaron

    I was impressed with the durant game winner but that had to be the most one sided officiated game I have seen in a while. do you think the mavs are in trouble or will they regain their course soon?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      It’s early and they were put together on the fly. Give them some time, they’re too talented to be as bad as they’ve been to start out the year. They’ll right the ship.

  9. Shad

    Yannis, do think with Kemba Walker’s development DJ Augustine will eventually become available? And do you believe the Jazz have the parts to acquire him? I’m really not liking Devin Harris!

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      You never know with Michael Jordan. Long term, though, I think one of them is obviously going to have to go. I’d wait to see how Kemba develops myself before shipping off Augustine. He’s just started to come along, don’t want to give him up right as he hits his best years.

  10. Shad

    Both Devin Harris and Al Jefferson have been awful fits in Utah, are they trad-able?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I think that they both are and I also believe that they’ll start to play better once they’re in shape. It’s a tough situation in Utah now with there being so many young guys who need time. Management there has some tough choices to make. A lot of people believe that both Harris and Jefferson should be traded. If they really want to get rid of them, I’m sure they’ll find a buyer – it just probably won’t be for the highest price tag.

  11. daniel c

    Why doesn’t OKC just trade Westbrook? I’m sure they can get great value for him. Trade him for a pg or trade him for a great SG and then move Harden to PG. Harden proved that he can run PG in the playoffs.

    PG trade Scenario:
    To Suns:
    Westbrook
    Cole Aldrich

    To OKC
    Steve Nash
    Grant Hill
    Rights to Aaron Brooks
    1st Round Pick & 2nd Round pick of 2012 (Great draft class)

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Harden isn’t a full-time point guard, so let’s throw that idea out. He’s best suited to play off of the ball and it was Maynor who got a lot of the backup point minutes, not Harden. OKC is not in a rush to win now. They’ve worked too hard to jeopardize their future for short-term fixes and that’s what that deal with Phoenix is. In a year or two that deal would become Brooks and a rookie for Westbrook, which doesn’t seem like a good enough deal for Westbrook to me.

  12. ed

    is Paul Gasol getting traded ? Lakers not looking good

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      They’re some Derrick Rose heroics away from being 3-1 without Andrew Bynum. Bynum is coming back next game and I think that’s when we’ll start to see the Lakers really take off. Gasol will remain on the trading block but only for an All-Star player. If he gets dealt, it’ll be in a deal for Deron Williams or Dwight Howard.

  13. mike

    Why would Dwight Howard not want to pair with Derrick Rose, this makes them instant contenders to the Heat. Bulls have young talent and a Bobcats 1st round draft pick which could be dealt. The fact he has not interest in the Bulls is mind boggling.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’m a little surprised too, the interest in Chicago just generally doesn’t seem to be there. Maybe the idea of playing with Rose doesn’t intrigue him much. I don’t know how it wouldn’t, but maybe that’s the case.

  14. Anthony

    Any thoughts on Tristan Thompson at this point?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Young guy obviously getting a crash course lesson on what it’s like to play in the league. I like his upside and the fact that he’s already producing nicely for them. Would like to see the rebounds go up, especially on the defensive end.

  15. Brian

    do you see Russell Westbrook sticking in OKC? He’s a great talent, but I’m afraid it’ll end up like Marbury/KG in Minnesota.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      It’s a situation I’m keeping a close eye on. So far, despite some clashing, he and KD have shown that they can compete near a championship level. No reason to break that up because of some arguments here and there.

  16. jc

    will the heat get any help at the center position? can you see kenyon martin with the heat? are they still trying to get curry into heat shape?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Martin wouldn’t be able to play center in Miami. He’s a four and they’re pretty set at that position. I think they’re going to go with what they have, not much out there right now at center.

  17. Jiggy

    What is a knock on Portlands backcourt pair WMathews and Gwallace. I think Behind Dwade,LBJ they are the best defending backcourt pair in the NBA…they are just great!

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I don’t have anything negative to say about them, although technically Wallace is a part of the frontline since he’s a small forward.

  18. Andrew

    The warriors are off to a good start being 2-1 (beating Chicago and NY). But it might just be early within the season. Do you see them making the playoffs? Do you think they’d make a big trade?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      They’re in the market to make a big trade. Most important for them is to stay healthy. They have a chance to sneak in, but it won’t be easy.

  19. Del

    Are the Utah Jazz really that bad? If so, why not trade Jefferson and Harris away?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      It’s early. I don’t think they’re this bad. They’re just young and not meshing together very well right now. I expect that to change, but they’re putting themselves in the kind of hole that could push management’s hand into trading those guys and just completely embracing a total youth movement – even bigger than the one currently ongoing.

  20. Del

    Millsap, Harris, and GSW #1 pick to Centics for Rondo, who says NO?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Probably Boston just because they aren’t actively looking to trade Rondo for anything other than an All-Star point guard in return from what I’ve heard.

  21. Arthur

    Im sorry, but how cant you guys see the potential thats out there in brooklyn: richest owner in sports, most expensive venue, dwill, and NY city. Also, with both dwill and dwight, the nets are definitely better than the magic now…thoughts?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      This is going to be the last one I answer folks. Thanks for stopping by and make sure to be safe on New Years!

      There’s a lot of what-if’s that come with being a Net in my opinion. Even if DWill and D12 are there, the surrounding cast is not going to be good enough for them to seriously compete with the Bulls and HEAT. Plus, it’s not like DWill or D12 are New York guys. Dwight’s from Atlanta and DWill is from Texas. They’re not from the area like Carmelo Anthony was. The Nets are always going to be second fiddle to the Knicks in New York in my opinion. I just don’t see the appeal as being that great. There’s some appeal, but it’s far from too good to turn down. Honestly, I see the Nets being without Williams and Howard at this time next year.