NBA Chat With Yannis 3/16/12

Join senior NCAA and NBA analyst Yannis Koutroupis for his weekly chat at 11 am EST on Friday March 16. As always basketball related questions from all levels are welcome.

  1. calvinzero

    Among the NCAA players, which of them are compatible to the Lakers system under Mike Brown?? Why?? I am waiting your answer. Thank you..

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Welcome everyone to this week’s chat. Hope we can find something to talk about. Let’s get right to the questions.

      Well, after yesterday you really don’t have to worry too much about what NCAA guys will fit with the Lakers because they traded away both of their first round picks. There will be some talent available in the second round, like Jordan Taylor from Wisconsin. He could be a guy they give a look, along with Herb Pope Seton Hall.

  2. GS Fan

    With the trade of Ellis and Jackson, picking up condition 1rst from Spurs, another 2nd from Hawks and possibly go into tanking mode for a high lottery, is this a good move for GS?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      As long as they make the right selections it is. They could get the pieces needed to become a perennial playoff team, something they are not right now.

  3. jayjay

    I have a bit of a lengthy question. If Nuggets were willing to trade Nene for McGee, would they have done it for Andy Varejao of the Cavs? If yes, then is that something the Nuggets should/would contact the Cavs about or does it get lost in all the trade talks among teams.

    I guess you can tell I like Andy to Nuggest better than Mcgee, and I also like Nene with Cavs better than Andy

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I don’t know much interest Cleveland would had in Nene’s contract. Andy’s is much more reasonable. Washington gambled a bit in taking on a deal of that size this early on in it. It’s not like they can amnesty him if it goes bad either.

  4. Deven

    Hi Yannis. How would you grade this year’s trading deadline?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’d give it an A+ for excitement, especially when you consider all the big names who stayed put. Really great time. Anyone upset about the lockout anymore?

  5. jayjay2

    Can Cavs buy out Walton this year so his salary doesn’t count against next year’s Cap

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      No. Even if they buy him out his salary will count against next year’s cap.

  6. Marvelous Marv

    Based on the trades that didn’t happen at the trade deadline, I expect a busy pre-draft and offseason frenzy. What do you think?

    Let me start the frenzy with one of two trade proposals

    Carmelo Anthony for O.J Mayo and Rudy Gay, or Amar’e for Josh Smith and Marvin Williams?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Good luck getting Smith and Williams for Amar’e after the season that he is having. Carmelo deal makes more sense, although I can’t see NYK doing it based off their love for him. I do expect the pre-draft period and offseason to be nuts, this deadline was hopefully a precursor to an even more exciting summer.

  7. Deven

    Fact or Fiction: Dwight Howard will be an Orlando Magic for the rest of his career.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’m going to go with fact! I think they convince someone to join him next summer when they have some cap space.

  8. Deven

    Fact or Fiction: Boston will break up the core at the end of the season, regardless of how far they go into the playoffs.

  9. aaron

    Do you ever get sick of the Durant hyping? For every good game he has he follows it with 3 bad ones that get swept under the rug by the media. If he were white with the same game/skills no one would give a damn about him.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Of course I do! I was a Greg Oden guy prior to that draft. I don’t agree with what you said at all, though. KD may get some favorable media coverage, but he’s great to everyone in the media so it’s hard for them to be negative about him. Every player has off nights, but KD is on far more than he is off. And few in the league can match him when he’s on. He’s not recognized as anything he doesn’t deserve to be.

  10. Dave

    I have a solution for next years coaching.
    For the 2012-2013 season the Blazers should Hire Mike D’Antoni
    Clippers Hire Nate McMillan
    Wizards hire Vinny Del Negro
    New York hires Sloan or Phil Jackson.
    Every team would get a good coach who fits in with the direction of the team right?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I think the Clippers should strongly consider D’Antoni, I’d almost want him over Nate just based on what I think he can do with the pieces they have there.

  11. Dave

    In my opinion, the Knicks never gave D’Antoni the freedom to do what he wanted. They tried changing his style (Hiring Woodson as “defensive” coordinater). Then getting players who didn’t fit his style of play like Carmelo. How do you expect to have this guy successful if you won’t let him what he does best and put the right players around him? (proved with the Suns). Knicks keep on making mistakes. How do you make the playoffs once in 8 years with the BEST MARKET in the NBA? They might not even make the playoffs this year. That’s just a sorry organization.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      D’Antoni was a guy hired to make the transition as smooth as possible from the Isaiah Thomas era to the more successful era they’re in now. Long-term from this point on, it started to look like a bad fit. Don’t feel bad for D’Antoni. He’ll have another job against next year, likely in a much more ideal situation for him. Meanwhile, NYK will be ok too. They’re going to upgrade at head coach with either Sloan or Phil, I believe.

  12. Eldad

    Kinda funny that nobody from HW poll (main page) got traded :D

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Ha! That is funny! Like I said, great deadline considering none of the big names got dealt.

  13. Deven

    Do you think Derek Fisher will reunite with Kobe after the season is over?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Don’t think there’s a spot for him. They’re pretty set at point guard now. He was traded for a reason.

  14. paprika

    Oh wow just read the trade deals, why didnt the lakers just traded blake instead of dfish? Why not get johnny flynn with the jordan hill trade so we could be deep in the pg spot and fish will just be a assistant coach aka heart of the team type of guy.we miss him here in LALA land. And why didnt they unload d.morris ? Cause rookies are cheap? Now is it time to waive people and get arenas and rasheed?? Haha thanks for your time yannis!

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      They wanted to keep Blake because he’s better right now. They also wanted to save money for next year by trading Fisher, knowing that he would have exercised his option to stay. And Morris is young and worth holding onto for a bit longer, but I’m sure if it was a deal breaker they would have shipped him off. They have an open roster spot, so they could sign either if they wanted to. Maybe Gilbert as a backup SG?

  15. shake rattle and roll

    Will the lakers regret letting their 2 picks for next year go? Are they big time players in the future? Jordan hill was 8th pick in the draft,can he lived up on the hype wnd maybe be a odom type to be the 6th man? Maybe an average of 14points 7 or 8 boards??

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      The Lakers will be just fine without those picks. This is a deep draft, but where the Lakers would have been picking they were going to get a role player at best. I don’t expect Jordan Hill to play 14 minutes a game, let alone average 14 and seven. He’s not living up to the hype as a Laker, that’s for sure. I think his time to do that has come and gone. He is what he is now, which is a second-team big man who can do a little, but nothing huge.

  16. pacquiao punch

    Wassup bro!? How can u not be amazed on mitch cupchak?! He seperated the boys from the big boys… He may not get the best player in the trade deadline but he was able to move walton n kapon! I once ask alex in a chat on how to move walton and not even he was able to give answers. How surprise are u with all the trades???

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Mitch is great, and the main reason why I say that is because he’s made some minor moves that make a tremendous impact. Look how key the Ariza and Brown deals were. Yesterday he made a key move that I think will really help the Lakers long-term. Sessions is going to shine there.

  17. revenge

    Ibwish the rox.dont buy out fish and camby coz we crazy hoopfanatics know what team picks them up, yup the MIAMI!

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      With Lowry hurting I think they’re going to hold onto him. And I agree, he’d probably end up in Miami.

  18. manila zoo

    If the lakers are the lake show,portland rip city, clipz lob city? The how about denver getting javale teaming up with his new found friend fareed with a gooe coach! Denver now is the block city!!!! Block party all day boy! Haha

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I don’t get into those names too much. I mean, the Clippers don’t even get the most amount of alley oops in Los Angeles.

  19. Aeyron

    Trade-winner? Lakers?

  20. Chris

    Hi Yannis. Do you see Portland buying out Kurt Thomas? And if so, do you see the Bulls picking him up? You figure they would do that for a few reasons: depth, vet leadership, and to keep him from the Heat.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’m not sure they buyout Kurt. I’d probably keep him, unless he really wanted out. He could end up with any contender. There’s not a locker room he doesn’t fit in with.

  21. Chris

    Hi Yannis. Do you see Houston buying out D-Fish? And if so, which contender do you see him latching onto? He’d be a solid fit as a mentor to D-Rose in Chicago.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I think he’d end up in Miami. The HEAT pursued him hard last time he was a free agent. I think Houston holds onto him, though.

  22. Nick

    People say that the Cavs made a horrible trade b/c they took on Walton’s contract…..it’s only for one year and who were the cavs going to sign in free agency anyway…gives another expire contract to maybe use in a trade next year(for money reasons)…what’s your thought

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I just think a lot of people are surprised that Luke’s deal was moved period. The Cavs are probably the only team in the league willing to take it, for the reason you mentioned. It’s not like they are signing Deron this offseason anyway. Maybe he turns into a decent filler. I could see him being bought out this summer, though.

  23. peter

    what names can we expect to see prior to next week’s deadline waivers and sign ons? anyone on Lakers sights after Beasley trade collapsed?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I think the Lakers stand pat. They liked Beasley, that’s why they were dealing for him not because they need help at SF. They’re actually three deep at that position. Maybe Gilbert signs somewhere. I expect the Spurs to get a point guard.

  24. MAC

    The 1st round picks the lakers gave up yesterday… even in deep draft, I don’t think they get better players then Sessions and Jordan Hill. A lot of folks in this part of town (LA) complaining about us giving up on the future

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I don’t think they do better than Sessions. Hill, quite possibly. Even with that said, I still make the moves.

  25. Matt

    Do you think Daryl Morey did okay considering he go rid of used parts even though he didnt land that big impact trade?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Yeah, he didn’t do too bad. He was limited in what he could do.

  26. Steve

    Hey Yannis, what are your thoughts about Monta Ellis and Ekpe Udoh coming to the Bucks? Do you think Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis will work well together?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      It’s not the most orthodox combination, but I think teams are going to have a hard time matching up against it. Udoh is going to have a chance to prove he belongs, I’m intrigued to see how he does.

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