NBA Chat With Yannis 12/7/12

Join senior NBA and NCAA analyst Yannis Koutroupis for his weekly NBA chat with Friday Dec. 7 at 11 am est!

  1. Deven

    Do you think the more Anthony Davis is out, the more likely Damian Lillard is ROY? He’s been a stud!

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Welcome everyone to this week’s chat! Lots of questions already going to do my best to get to them all.

      Lillard has a great chance at it. Staying healthy while Davis is not definitely helps.

  2. Deven

    What’s the likelihood that Pau Gasol gets traded this season?

  3. Chris

    Hi Yannis. Chris Palmer of ESPN said Kobe is better than MJ was. Thoughts? 6 rings, 6 Finals MVPs (i.e. best/most important player on 6 NOT 2 title teams), 5 MVPs, never lost in the Finals, never quit on his team in the playoffs (*cough Phoenix), a Defensive Player of the Year, etc… This Chris Palmer guy is a real putz.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I don’t agree with him. I think Kobe deserves to be mentioned in that class, but he’s not better than MJ.

  4. Edward Lee

    Is Steve Nash the messiah who will lead the Lakers to the championship? He is not God and what the Lakers need is beyond Steve Nash.

  5. Peter

    Hey how you doing? Just saw the video of you and Stephen talking about Varejao. I personally think the Spurs should be giving the Cavs a call about him. Jackson’s contract is up this year and the spurs can build a package around him. Your thoughts?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Great idea! Varejao would be terrific on the Spurs. They need another big too. This may be one of the most logical trade ideas I’ve ever received.

  6. cj

    you think that nic batum has a case for MIP and damian lillard for ROY?

  7. LA in LA

    I heard Lakers turned down 2 trade proposals.
    1) One of Pekovic and Williams for Gasol from Twolves. I’d actually like that trade except having Pek and Dwight would cause spacing issues and Derrick Williams looks like a bust. Maybe if they did that they could flip Pek for a legit PF. What are your thoughts on this proposal?

    2)Bargnani, Calderon, linas kleiza. I initially rejected any Gasol for Bargnani because of the latter’s poor defense and rebounding, but maybe being the 3rd or 4th option would make him better and increase his FG% and 3FG%. plus, Calderon > Duhon/Morris/Blake.
    What do you think about this deals?

    3)If those were the best deals available which would you consider the better deal?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      The Lakers will never accept Minny’s offer. They’d have to get a third team involved, those pieces don’t help them get closer to winning a championship at all. The Raptors deal makes a lot more sense.

  8. Wil

    Hi Yannis, odd question, but is basketball anymore for the pros? We focus so much on the competition, winning at all costs, feeling awful after a loss, etc. that I wonder if anyone actually enjoys playing anymore? What do you think? It is a sport after all.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Without a doubt they do. They’re making more money than they ever have, that helps ease a lot of the down sides of being a pro baller.

  9. Sweet Dee

    Yahoo Basketball Fantasy League claims Pau Gasol likely won’t be dealt by the Lakers per an agreement the team made when they signed Steve Nash as a free agent. The reports says Nash signed with the Lakers on the condition the team wouldn’t trade Gasol. Questions: Is this true? And do you think a gentleman’s agreement made between Kupchak and Nash could stop a deal from happening?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I highly doubt that. Just seems silly. What was Nash worried at the time the Lakers were going to give Gasol away for nothing, is that why he needed to take that stance? The Lakers aren’t going to deal him unless it gets them closer to a ring, that’s always been the case. And, what if the Lakers do trade Gasol soon? Is Nash just going to quit? Doesn’t add up to me at all.

  10. Charlie

    If you were the GM of the LA Lakers and Bryan Colangelo called you tomorrow an offered Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon, and Linas Kleiza for Pau Gasol. Do you accept? Why or why not.

  11. Yoichi Kato

    I know its still early in the season with new system and lots of injuries but still….

    Celtics won in 08′ with KG, Ray Allen, Pierce and Rondo.

    Miami got to finals in their first season even though they lost they still got there.

    Lakers’ depth isn’t bad Hill, Jamison, and Meeks has been playing good. Ebanks has played well in playoffs last year. Morrison has been playing well as well.

    Will Lakers dig them selves out of the hole they are in?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I think so. It’s a marathon, not a race. The Lakers have plenty of time to improve.

  12. Roon

    Should the Bobcats look into trading Gerald Henderson? He is a decent piece and could help a team coming off the bench. I could see a team like Indiana or Minnesota being interested in him. What could the Cats get in return for him?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Only if it’s the right deal, which MJ always has trouble finding.

  13. Steve

    What do you think of bargnani and calderon for pau gasol? Do you think its a good trade?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I like it for the Lakers and think it may be a necessary move for the Raptors. They’ve tried winning with those two and it just hasn’t happened. Pau will help a lot and he’s an expiring deal next season. Decent hail mary by Colangelo to try and save the season.

  14. Bill

    The HEAT have been playing terrible the last week why can’t they figure out what’s going on and why haven’t they signed Kenyon Martin yet and why not just trade Joel Anthony and dexter Pittman already and get something useful

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      They’re the best team in the league. Everyone has down stretches. The HEAT are not the type to panic.

  15. Brian

    Time to trade Mario chalmera ad Joel Anthony what can HEAT get in return, even throw in James jones

  16. broken china

    Will teams create their roster thru depth rather than superstars to win inspired by the ex champ mavs and now the knicks?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Superstars win in this league and make you worth watching when you’re losing. Teams will never get away from that. Both teams you mentioned have superstars.

  17. jerky and beer chronicles

    Alot of people made fun of the knicks with all the crazy roster moves in the past. Now is letting jlin go and signing rfelton,priogni and kidd way better ? Chemistry wise atleast felton,kidd n priogni gel well with melo compared to the hyped linsanity,with me?

  18. Peter

    What would you think if Cleveland traded Varejao along with Miles to the Celtics for Green, Bradley, and Sullinger? It puts pressure on Waiters to live up to expectations along with thompson. Then develop their young talent and end up with a top 3 pick and hope to draft Noel. This also allows the Celtics to shift KG back to the 4. I think it makes them contenders these next 3 years keeping that big 4 in place. This trade tremendously helps their biggest weakness in rebounding. Thoughts?

  19. Aristotle

    Heya Yannis

    If the Knicks go all the way to win the title, would this be the first time the Top 5 picks in an NBA Draft go on to win at least ring each?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’d have to do a lot of searching to answer that one correctly, I’m not sure.

  20. Aristotle

    Heya Yannis

    Is it just me that’s seeing glimpses of Wade wanting to be the alpha dog again in Miami? Some very poor choices in his shot selection lately, and I’m feeling that the same frustrations of two seasons ago is back. I think they need to have a good locker room talk especially when Rashard and Ray are also on the team.

  21. Brandon

    James harden said he has been recruiting players to come play with him in Houston. Do you know of any names he been trying to recruit? What position do you think the rockets need help in? Who do think will be a good fit?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I think SF is their biggest need right now, along with maybe PG if they can move past Lin. I do not know who he has been actively trying to recruit, although I’d guess guys who are about to be free agents.

  22. robb

    Do you feel the pacers should make a move for a 2 guard. Lance is ok but his production should be coming off the bench.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      It’s been a need for awhile now, if they can do it without shaking up their core it makes sense.

  23. James

    Do you think if media and the public are overreacting to the “struggles” of the Heat lately? Or do you think Wade’s struggle will persist through the season even in the playoff?

  24. Jimbo Fish

    Do you think there is a posibily that the lakers miss the postseason?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      No, too much time left for a team that talented not to get it together.

  25. Gerald

    Do you think the lakers will try and add blake to and deal they get for gasol

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I think so, especially if it includes another point guard coming their way.

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