NBA Chat With Yannis 9/2/11

1. Anthony Davis

   Drummond better be careful before annointing him the number 1 pick over me. Don’t you agree?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Welcome everyone to this week’s chat! Let’s get right to the questions.

     Drummond shouldn’t be concerned with the rankings at all. He needs to solely concern himself with what Coach Calhoun asks him to do. If he delivers on everything, all of the off the court things will take care of themselves. Preseason mock drafts are more about potential and personal preference anyway. I think Drummond deserves to be in the conversation along with Anthony Davis, Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger, Perry Jones and a few freshmen. However, until games start being played we won’t know for sure. He could slip way down, or he could run away with the spot. I wasn’t blown away with what I saw from him during the summer, but Calhoun wasn’t on the side lines lighting him up for his lack of effort. Come November he will be.

2. Mutang

   Any rumors for what Utah will do? They have a stop-gap PG in Harris, good, but not the answer. They have a glut of PF/C’s, and GS’s lotto pick next year. Is Burks or Hayward the 2 guard? Seems most, and I agree, say Utah should look to trade Millsap, since teams love him and they have a great line left with Al, Favors and Kanter. What do you think they will, and should do?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     No kind of rumors involving any transactions right now due to the lockout, unfortunately. Those were always my favorite part of the summer. Maybe they get a deal done soon and we get a condensed offseason prior to training camp that is full of activity. As far as Utah goes, though, I’m a supporter of trading Millsap myself. I think he’s expendable with what they have in young talent. Favors and Kanter need to play. I wouldn’t want to trade Jefferson due to his ability to play both power forward and center. That’s really vital and few players in the league have the ability to do it and be as effective as he is at it. I think that Burks will see a good amount of playing time at the shooting guard position, with Kirilenko’s possible departure maybe we see more of Hayward at the three.

3. Charlie

   In the latest Hoopsworld Poll, you ask us who you would pick if you were starting a NBA Franchise today. There are seven players listed, none of which is the reigning finals MVP. Not saying I would choose him, but not even listed after that playoffs? Why the no love for Dirk Nowitzki?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     You would have to ask the creator of the poll, which I believe is Jason Fleming. I didn’t create it myself. If I did, Dirk would have been on it. There’s no way you can leave him off. He went up against teams loaded with star power in the Lakers and HEAT while being the only All-Star on his team and led his troops to victory. Couldn’t have been more impressed. I was already a believer in Dirk being a top-ten power forward, but that bumped him up even further in my book. Incredible run, I’ll never forget the way he played in the playoffs this year. The progress he’s made from when he first came into the league is truly magnificent.

4. Ali

   Weird question…how does the HOF work? players get inducted into it, have their names players in Springfield, ma..ok I get that, but do they get paid a salary for getting in for the rest of their lives? If not, how do Bill Russell get by when the last time he received a paycheck from playing was when lebron was still in his daddy nutsack, plus the salary back then is like toilet paper to players nowadays.

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     As far as I know, and I’m pretty certain when I say this, there’s no cash reward that comes with being inducted into the Hall of Fame. I’m sure that Russell makes a good amount of money by giving speeches, making appearances and doing things of that nature. I wouldn’t be surprised if the NBA helped him find some type of work, they’re pretty good about taking care of their own.

5. Tyler

   What do you think about a Kaman for Jeff Green swap? Hopefully there will still be a S&T in the new CBA but that really seems to help both teams. Celtics need a Center and Clippers need a good but not great small forward.

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     I don’t think that the Clippers would be willing to do that. While they’re willing to trade Kaman, they’re looking to get a good deal for him and personally I wouldn’t give him up for Jeff Green. What it comes down to for me is that there are very few centers in the league that are as skilled as Kaman. It’s a thin position, teams are going to be willing to overpay for him. Green was a disappointment in Boston. I know it was a tough situation, but I’d want better from someone I’d be trading a All-Star caliber center for. The Clippers are better off holding on to Kaman, there will be superior offers in the future.

6. Tyler

   Do you think the Clippers can get Chris Paul? That Minne pick is almost guaranteed to be a star and if he refuses to sign an extension then you have to trade him right? Is there a better deal out there for the Hornets?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     I’d be awfully shocked to see Paul end up a Clipper. Crazier things have happened, though, and they would be pretty electrifying with him. I can only imagine how often Paul would be able to hook up for alley oops with Blake. We won’t know what the offers are like until they seriously start considering trading him, which they have not done yet. They believe they can keep him. In my opinion, he isn’t going to be a Hornet for many more years. Whether they trade him or he walks I’m unsure, but they don’t have the right kind of talent around him right now to keep him in town.

7. Faizan

   I might sound crazy but I really think the Thunder should look to trade Westbrook for CP3 if the opportunity arises. There is a clear batman/robin struggle b/w him and KD and I think Westbrook would just be a lot happy if he was the No.1 on a team, albeit it be a bad one like New Orleans. Your Thoughts?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     I think that the whole conflict between KD and Westbrook is way overstated. They can work together. They were a year ahead of schedule this year anyway. They’re only going to get better. With that said, I trade Westbrook for Paul all day everyday. That’s a no brainer, but we’re a ways away from that even being a serious option.

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

8. wolt

   why is houston bent on holding onto trade pieces? they have a lot at the 4 and strong bench players but really not a contending team. would you say blow up, trading scola/resigning hayes depending on price, and try and get some draft picks in the years to come?

   • Alex Kennedy

     Houston has been trying to cash those pieces in for a star player for years. It’s not like the Rockets are holding onto those players and refusing to deal with other teams. They’ve been one of the more active teams at the trade deadline in each of the last few seasons. They haven’t been able to land a star player in recent years, but it’s not for lack of trying.