NBA Chat With Yannis 3/23/12

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

  1. philip fletcher

    Yannis;
    If Boris Diaw can bring his A game to the Spurs. How much does that help them?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Welcome everyone to this week’s chat! Let’s get right to the questions that way I can get to them all.

      It’s an intriguing addition that I think will undoubtedly help them. But does he take them to the next level? I’m not so sure. I don’t think he’s going to help them defensively if they get matched up against a team with a lot of size like Memphis or San Antonio. Plus, I wonder if he’s even in good enough shape for Popovich to play him right now. It’ll be a culture shock for him going from Silas’ laid-back style to Popovich’s detail-oriented system.

  2. marc pal

    Hello Yanis,

    Everybody keeps talking about how deep this draft is going to be. How talented is it in order from 1-30? I’d like to see the rest of the pieces the Lakers may have given up for Hill and Sessions.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      It is a fairly deep draft, but once you get past the lottery it’s all about the eye of the beholder. Some guys will hit, while the others will miss. The Lakers knew that Sessions was going to be a hit for them, so they decided it was worth giving up a first rounder. I don’t think they felt the same way about Hill, but they needed some depth at center and wanted to get rid of Fisher’s contract. I had them taking Washington point guard Tony Wroten in my latest mock draft. There’s also the financial benefits from trading the first round pick. They’re over the cap, so they would have had to pay double for their draft picks.

  3. Mateo

    What happens now to celtics after turiaf and hickson signed with other teams? I think ainge indecision cost the celtics a lot. They know at the start of the season that they need a big man and until now they havent acquired one.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      There’s still Rasheed! I think the search continues. Turiaf would have been a nice get for them, but they should have known as soon as the HEAT showed interest that it was time to move on to their next target.

  4. Omar

    Who would win the playoff matchup: Indiana Pacers or the Philly Sixers?

  5. AJ

    I know it’s early for this kind of hypothetical question. Which five players from this draft class do you see as most likely to be All-Stars in the next five years?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Harrison Barnes, Brad Beal and Cody Zeller.

  6. Aussiebballer

    Can teams sign previous draft picks after the Euro competitions finish??
    Ie could the Raptors sign Jonas Valanciunas if his team bombs out the Playoffs?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Technically they could but there’s a deadline later this month. With buyout negotiations and all that mess, it’d be hard to meet it.

  7. AJ

    Could Anthony Davis, Jared Sullinger, Thomas Robinson, and/or John Henson translate in to an NBA center?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Only on a team that likes to play small. They’re four men to me, though.

  8. calvinzero

    Hey Yannis!! Thanks for the answer from my previous questions.. Here are my new Q:
    On your personal opinion, is Anthony Davis prospect on the mock drafts a key for some (if not all) NBA teams to look to more defensive minded players?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      No, just because it’s not like they haven’t always looked for good defensive players. That’s always been important, Davis doesn’t change that.

  9. Kevin in Tokyo

    I know it’s a long way out, but I just thought about a scenario that I haven’t heard much about: CP3 and D12 in Brooklyn.

    Dwight said he wanted to play for the Nets, Chris Paul said he wanted to be in NYC a couple years back, and There’s a pretty good chance that Deron Williams goes home to Dallas next year.

    P.S. Who wouldn’t mind going to the not quite Miami or L.A. weather of Boston in F.A. next season? Cap space for some big contracts.. Chance to play for Doc and get passes from the best pure point in the league as well as the Truth..

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’m pretty burnt out on Dwight Howard and his possible moves. I guess it is possible, though, based on the premise that anything is possible. If Boston shells out the cash, they can get some quality players there. It’s not a hot-spot destination like Miami or L.A., though.

  10. paprika

    Hi yannis, hey alot of people are already giving up on wes johnson. I see him exploding if given a great environment.maybe he needs a great coach like doc rivers or an offense like mike d’antoni. Because this also happened to evan turner.alot of doubters because he was drafted high. Now he is slowly but sure making his way up. Whats ur take on wes j.?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I worried about his upside coming out of Syracuse since he was one of the older prospects in that class, yet his game still needed a lot of development to be effective at the pro level. He did a lot of his scoring off of isolation within 17 feet in college. He doesn’t get the same opportunities, but if he hasn’t thrived under Adelman I’m not sure a change of scenery is what he needs. Count me as one of the guys who is no longer a believer. Thought he’d be good, but it just hasn’t come together for him. And now it’s not like they can trade him either, his stock is as low as it’s ever been.

  11. Gerald

    Do you see the clippers firing VDN and going after Nate Mcmillan? I see him being the coach to take the clips to the next level

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I see them firing him and going after any one of the several better and more qualified candidates.

  12. Nery

    Who ends becoming the blazers coach? JVG? Mike D’Antoni? Canales himself?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      D’Antoni makes sense. I don’t think Canales is ready just yet. They should try to keep him in the program, though.

  13. Cain

    Can Paul George have an All-Star career playing SG? Or will that only happen at SF?

  14. abla tagalog

    Fun question my friend. I love r.sessions. and i feel that the lakers will be last years dallas mavs aka the dark horse. Just incase it goes wrong. What do u think of ilyasova and jennings or monta for sess and pau?? Haha i guess just too much video games for me thats why my kind imagines this kinds of scenario. Thanks bro!!!!

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I can’t see that happening. I also don’t consider the Lakers a dark horse. They’re one of the favorites right now in the West, along with OKC and S.A.

  15. Eric Aldridge

    Why is everyone sleeping on Austin Rivers and how is he not a top 10 pick? What makes Bradley Beal a better prospect? Rivers is just as talented as Kyrie Irving and is NBA READY right now.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      He’s a little undersized for the two guard spot and needs to improve defensively. Honestly, I think he can play the point in the league, making a similar transition to the one Russell Westbrook did. Like Westbrook, he’s too good not to have the ball in his hands constantly. Beal is a better rebounder and passer, which has a lot to do with it. I like Rivers, though. He’ll climb up my draft board as he starts to kill it in individual workouts. Duke’s early exit didn’t help his cause in the short-term.

  16. jefff ross

    Can You rank these 5 Shooting Guards on who will be the best players in 5 years and why? Eric Gordon, James Harden, Demar Derozan, Marshon Brooks and Austin Rivers?

    What are there Ceilings?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      James Harden, Eric Gordon, Austin Rivers, DeMar DeRozan and Marshon Brooks. Gordon, Harden and Rivers can be all-stars, while the other two can be very serviceable starters.

  17. Martin

    The Spurs are still holding the 2nd seed in the Western Conference despite injuries, retirement and trades. They have also convincingly beat the best teams in the West (except the Lakers whom they haven’t played yet). Barring any major injuries come playoff time, what do you think the Spurs chances are of winning the West?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I don’t think they’re great, but they can win it. I just think they’re benefiting a lot right now from the lack of preparation time and the fact that they have superior chemistry in comparison to most teams. When a team is able to thoroughly game plan for them night in and night out, their weaknesses inside defensively are going to be exploited against bigger teams.

  18. Jazzfan

    Thanks for the chat Yannis, what do you think of the Jazz’s young core of Kanter, Favors, Hayward and Burks? they’ve really started to come on strong the last few weeks and I can see a big future for us, I still think we need to find our PG of the future.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I like them, think they call can be pretty good. An upgrade at point would be nice, but it’s not like they’re terrible at the position right now.

  19. HoBo

    Waz up Yannis!

    Who makes the best running mate for Kyrie in Cleveland, Beal, Lamb, T. Ross or Rivers? I like Ross and Lamb size but find it hard to pass on Beal if available.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Beal is the best option, with Lamb serving as a really nice backup plan.

  20. HoBo

    Hi Yannis again,

    Do you get the chance to scout talent overseas? Who, from overthere, should we be looking out for in next year’s draft?

  21. MikeM

    Hi Yannis…does adding Patty Mills and possibly Diaw help the Spurs enough to really contend in the west? They win in the regular season, but seem to get exposed in the playoffs.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’m not so sure. Neither of those guys can really defend too well. I think the Spurs are going to be a very tough out, but I think LA and OKC are better in the West and that Miami and Chicago are better in the East.

  22. Kim

    Do you think lebron James can win six and do you think he will

  23. Beetlegeuse

    How likely is it the Lakers will move Pau Gasol because of his $19million salary?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Less likely if they win it all, but still possible as they brace for a new era with the stiff restrictions and penalties for being in the luxury tax.

  24. Cricket

    In response to the question of whether Patrick Ewing will ever get a head coaching job, Steve Kyler said “Please no… please don’t let that happen. Pat is not a very good coach. He is not a teacher. He is not an X’s and O’s guy.” This seems a little harsh. Would you agree with Steve’s valuation of Patrick as a future head coach? Why or why not.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Nobody has seen more of Patrick than Steve over the years. From what I’ve gathered, he’s more like “aww come on that’s all you got? When I was young I would do…..” when it comes to coaching. That’s his style, and that doesn’t work in the NBA. I think he’s got some serious evolving to do if he wants to be a head coach. Honestly, I think he’d get a head job in college before he would the pros.

  25. Sweet Dee

    I thought it was a great job of the Wizards to rid themselves of Nick Young. Dude is an absolute chucker and ballhog. For those that disagree, this shooting guard has a CAREER high of only 6 assists in a game in over 100+ games started. Addition by subtraction, as you need quality team players to build around John Wall. Agree or Disagree with the valuation of Young?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Little too harsh considering he’s a shooting guard and a scorer, not a playmaker. Can’t fault him too much for doing what he does, but he has to be efficient doing it. Washington invested their time in him, it was time to move on.

  26. Josh

    YAnnis,

    Jazz have put together a good young core with favors, hayward, kanter, and burks..knowing that Utah isnt an attractive market for top tier free agents how attractive has that young core made Utah? Do you think a top tier PG would go to Utah knowing that he will have this group to run with and know that he will contend for a title for years to come?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      As we saw this summer, guys will play in China if the money is right. If Utah pays, guys will come.

  27. Dennis

    Steve Kyler came out and blatantly accused the Portland Trail Blazers of tanking this season. He says that firing McMillian and replacing him with a coach with zero head coach experience was in an effort to lose as many games as possible. Do you agree? Why or why not?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      It’s like this chat has turned into a ploy to get me to disagree with my boss, which I’ve done plenty of times before when it comes to team’s ceilings or draft prospects, but not in these cases. How can you view Portland’s moves as anything other than tanking? They’ve given up on this season and are moving towards the next. They traded Marcus Camby for Jonny Flynn and Hasheem Thabeet!

  28. Jonas

    what would you do if you were the raptors GM about their sf – stick with johnson and kleiza or get rid of one them and try to get somebody better?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I’d go SF with my lottery pick, taking Barnes or MKG.

      That’s going to do it for me this week folks. I’ll be back next week at the same time! Enjoy the rest of the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight this weekend!