NBA Chat With Yannis 4/6/12

1. calvinzero

   In your personal knowledge,who among the current NBA players came played (maybe once) in Liga Endesa?? I watch their games sometimes and it quite a competitive one. I hope that you answer my Q again,, Thanks Yannis

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Welcome everyone to this week’s chat, let’s get right to the questions.

     I believe it was Rudy Fernandez. That’s my best bet.

2. HoBo

   Waz up Yannis,
   Cavs are in a great position to improve the team this offseason. However, I don’t think four more young rookies from this year’s draft is necessarily the best way to do it. I’d like to see a veteran (on the better side of 30) brought in to help stabilize the team. Do you think it would be wise for the Cavs to offer OJ Mayo a contract similar to what Marcus Thornton, Aaron Affalo and Wilson Chandler got to be Kyrie running mate? I always though with starter minutes he could be a very good player. If not OJ, who (if any) would you recommend they target in free agency?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     With the lack of depth in this year’s free agency class, I’m not so sure that it doesn’t make sense for Cleveland to just kind of stand pat with the youth movement and wait until maybe next summer to try to pull off a big signing. They were hurt in the past by signing guys like Larry Hughes to a big deal when they missed out on Michael Redd and Ray Allen. They need to avoid spending just to spend.

3. BSaintM

   Yannis what is your opinion on the Dwight Howard drama lately? I keep wishing he would either be honest about his wishes in terms of the coach or w/e or just keep quiet. I really think he is making himself look worse than LeBron did with “the Decision”. Your thoughts?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Well, this recent issue was more about Stan opening up than Dwight doing anything new. But Dwight can’t have nights like he had last night when the heat is on him. That’s when he’s got to shine. LeBron James is shutting people up with production, Dwight’s capable of doing the same and needs to do it.

4. simmworks

   What’s up Yannis! That Lakers-Clippers game on Wednesday was nice and chippy. My question is about Blake Griffin…what is the league-wide read on his maturity issues? From where I sat, his lack of maturity was a drain on the Clips. It doesn’t even seem like some of his teammates like him.

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     A lot of people were saying Andrew Bynum’s maturity issues were showing in that game too. I think when you’re as young as they are, there are going to be some instances from time to time. With that said, I’ll take them any day on my team.

5. Deven

   What will happen with the Magic:What will happen with the Magic:

   A. SVG will be fired. SVG will be fired (Before the playoffs begin)
   B. Dwight will demand a trade again. Dwight will demand a trade again this offseason
   C. None of the above

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     I think come 2013-2014 we could see a Magic team without Dwight Howard and SVG.

6. Bill Wallace

   Can Damian Lilard be a Big Time Scorer at the NBA level and where would he be ranked a few years from now among the best scoring point guards in the NBA?

   Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, Russel Westbrook, Brandon Jennings and Damian Lilard for me.

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     He’d be lucky to get into the top 10. Point guard play is really good right now, even though a lot of those guys could be considered more scoring point guards than natural playmaking ones. I don’t know if I’d go as far as to say he could be big time scorer in the NBA, he’s going to be asked to reign it in a bit and run the offense. He won’t just constantly have the green light like in college.

7. Stan Bradley

   Austin Rivers is a top 10 pick in this years draft despite what you and other draft sites say. No one else seems to believe that Rivers is better than Bradley Beal and has more of a NBA READY skill set and Will be the better Pro.

   Rivers needs to get stronger and work on his shot selection

   Beal needs to work on his ball handling skills and creating his own shot, he always tends to pull up for the jump shot rather than taking it to the rim with his average speed

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Just because I don’t have him as a top 10 pick right now doesn’t mean that can’t change going into the draft. My whole mock is subject to change dramatically between now and then. Once I start getting feedback that he’s a top 10 guy who is winning teams over, he’ll climb. Until then, go watch the NCAA Tournament and tell me Beal didn’t look like the more NBA ready product. He’s less ball dominant and more well rounded in my opinion. I think Beal will be a starter, whereas Rivers will be more of a fringe starter, 6th man type.

8. Ray gordon

   Tony Wroten has Top 15 talent yet he is not projected to go there. He needs to work on his jump shot, descision making and shot selection? Did that Stop Tyreke Evans from being the 4th pick and winning the ROY.

   Besides playing for 2 different schools why cant Wroten make the same kind of impact in the league like Evans?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Evans took his team to the tournament and was hands down the best player on that squad. Wroten blended in a bit more at Washington, who came up short of making the big dance. In terms of talent, he’s definitely top 15. But this is a deep draft and he’s got some things he has to prove, as you pointed out. Plus, coming out of Memphis Tyreke looked like a point guard. That’s what he played in the second half of the season there and thrived. Wasn’t until a year or two into his career that it became clear he wasn’t one.

9. Mike aldridge

   Knowing how good Kyrie Irving is now and he was in this upcoming 2012 NBA Draft and the Cavs had the 1st pick wouldn’t they still pick him in front of Anthony Davis? The Cavs Know What Irving can and become one of the best PG in the league while Davis is all Upside and Potential.

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Davis isn’t all upside and potential. He’d be a starter in the NBA this year. He’s a far better prospect than Tristan Thompson, who the Cavs took fourth overall last year. Nothing against TT, he’s got potential, but AD’s a lock to be a high-end starter at PF. It’d be interesting to see who they pick. I think they’d really think long and hard about AD, but you have to have a good PG in this league and Irving has proven to be one.

10. Cricket

    Both Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley called out Dwight Howard for giving up on his team during last night’s TNT doubleheader. They cited plays were he did not set proper screens, run back on defense, and generally not give full effort. If you saw the game last night, would you agree? And how do you see this SVG / Howard situation unfolding for the rest of the year?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I see a first round exit ahead for Orlando, and yes it was obvious that Dwight wasn’t playing like he usually does last night.

11. Charlie

    In your opinion, which struggling player has a greater chance of making a NBA team next year and staying in the league for 5+ years: Gerald Green or Terrance Williams

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Green, I think he’s hungrier from being on the outside looking in, playing in the D-League, Turkey and being passed on several times.

12. Sweet Dee

    Steve Nash is a team oriented guy, so he doesn’t demand a trade from the Suns. If he acted like a d#$$k (ex. Carmelo Anthony) then he would have forced a trade and be competing for his first championship rather than booking a tee off time. What does that say to the rest of the league? Cry and complain and you’ll get your way. But I’ll be the douche with the championship trophy over the nice guy without all day every day. If you were Steve Nash, would you be respectful for the good of the team or selfish for the good of yourself (be honest)?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      I think there’s a middle ground. Nash would still be beloved in Phoenix forever if he politely asked for a move to a contender. It’s something everyone would understand. He’s given that franchise and city all he’s had.

13. Andy

    Who has more upside, Beal or MKG?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      MKG due to his ability to defend multiple positions. He guarded the opposing point guards most of the tournament for crying out loud.

14. joshua

    tyreke evans for danny granger .who says no

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Perhaps neither. But I think Indiana would have concerns over how Evans fits.

15. Tony in Indy, Indy

    Whazzup Yannis! One of my favorite chat artists on HW! I appreciate your insights. I think D-Will would make the Pacers elite, and they have the money to bring him in. Any chance he would look this way if the money is right?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Thanks Tony! It’s all about selling him on being able to contend in Indiana. I think Dallas and NJ are going to be really tough for them to beat ou.

16. Kyle

    Which combo would you choose (all players are in their prime), Jordan and Shaq, Lebron and Kobe, Oscar Robertson and Wilt.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Jordan and Shaq.

17. Lateak

    I think tha knicks should get nash n let go of lin… I like what lin did but i want a championship n nash can get us there… Have seen tha suns team!

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      With D’Antoni gone I don’t see the need to go out there and get him. He’d be great on any team, but I don’t see him landing there.

18. Lateak

    T.evans 4 n.batum… That trade is great 4 boths.. The blazers need a go to scorer at the 2

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Not sure they’d rather just keep Batum, who they’ve invested a lot of time into.

19. muffinalt

    Yasu!

    Who in your opinion is the best fit for the Cavs in this year’s draft? They have a glaring whole at SG and a C and SF could be welcomed too (although Gee has been improving). They’re likely picking top 5 – thats gotta mean Beal right? Do you think the E. Gordon meets Ray Allen comparison is adequate?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      He’s not as quick or explosive as either of those guys, but he will remind you of them from time to time with the way he plays and the moves he uses. I think he makes a lot of sense. I could also see them going big early and small later, a lot of teams tend to go with that strategy because the dropoff in big men is much steeper late in the draft than it is with perimeter players.

20. muffinalt

    Just another quick Q. The Cavs are rumored to be targeting Omer Asik in free agency. What’s your take on him?

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Think he would be a great addition. I can see how Coach Scott would want to add him.

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