NBA Rumors Chat With Steve Kyler 10/13/11

1. Jono

   hey steve,
   Which young team could benefit from the depth of the 2012 draft? And which team after the draft would be stronger and better: cavs, kings, raptors, bobcats,wizards, timberwolves (any other young teams I haven’t listed?) or maybe a veteran team with young talent?
   thanks for your time:)

   • Steve Kyler

     Hard to say who would benefit from the draft as we have no idea what the draft order would look like.

     I can say this teams like The Clippers, Raptors, Timberwolves and Kings need another under 20-player like they need another hole in their head.

     All four of those teams are stacked with young guys that can’t win games by themselves, they need veteran help.

     The Raptors, Bobcats and Cavs still need talent, so those would be the ones from your list that need to draft someone that matters. Those are likely the teams that struggle the most this season – if we have one.

2. Jono

   hey steve,
   I got one question which is driving me insane, why was josh selby drafted at pick 49 second round when he was like rated so highly during recruiting time a couple years ago????
   thank you:)

   • Steve Kyler

     From what I have heard Josh was flagged with a knee injury. I was told he blew off his MRI at the combine and teams simply passed on the uncertainty.

     I have spent time around Josh and I can tell you he is a great talent, but he is very young and has a lot of learning and growing to do as a player… Think JR Smith coming into the league. Immensely talented, but maturity is going to be an issue.

     Josh is not a knucklehead like JR was, but he is a very young guy.

3. Jhayee

   Jonny Flynn,Courtney Lee,Chase Budinger,Kyle Lowry,houston 1st DP for Al Jefferson,Earl Watson,Jeremy Evans..

   tnx..

   • Steve Kyler

     Never happen, way too much talent leaving Houston not enough returning.

4. joe, chino hills, ca

   your all star team?
   i go with dwight howard, dirk, durant, kobe, and cp3. it has defense, fire power, and veteran leadership.

   • Steve Kyler

     My five… Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Al Horford and Dwight. — need rebounders with all that firepower.

5. tony

   Are you buying into the doomsday of no season? I really just don’t see the owners willing to destroy that much momentum to get what they are asking for. And not just the momentum this economy is hurting in 98 99 it was booming so people were more forgiving. I don’t see people being so forgiving this time.

   • Steve Kyler

     Not entirely the owners call.

     I wouldn’t say I am buying into no season, but the stage is set for it.

     The owners have made it clear they want a new system and the players will not budge on that front so unless the owners retreat on this, which they have had a few chances to do, this thing gets ugly for a while.

6. Giovanni Antonini

   How do you in-vision the 2012 NBA lottery unfolding? I’m a Cavs fan so of course i say lets keep the same draft order as 2011 but i don’t see that as being very fair. I’ve also heard that the Cavs would have the same odds of winning the 1st pick (19.6%)if there is no season but we wouldn’t own the rights to the Clippers pick?

   • Steve Kyler

     There is no precedent for this, so there is no blueprint to follow.

     I can tell you I doubt seriously they use last year’s draft order. They would like hold a 30 team lottery, evenly weighted, and just draw that way.

     Through 30 ping pong balls into a hopper and the first one out gets the first pick… that’s the only way to be completely unbiased and deal with the traded picks that are owed.

7. Mutang

   Here’s the deal; I’m a Utah Jazz fan. All we’ve ever had for pro-sports in Utah is the Utah Jazz. Thats why the arena there is always the toughest to play, we eat, drink, breath Utah Jazz. You know how many kids and now adults out there are named Stockton?? We live Jazz basketball, and have no other professional outlet to cheer for. And when the NBA does start back up, they’ll see that fans are not coming back. And thats just Utah fans. Imagine those fans that support the Knicks, or Clippers, whoever and actually have other sports teams to cheer for???? The NBA players are going to be STUNNED…..owners too. They blew it.

   • Steve Kyler

     Everyone is entitled to their own response to this, but as I continue to say… this is not about the fans… This labor deal will govern the NBA for the next decade and getting this right will swing the balance of power in the league in a number of new ways.

     As a Jazz fan you should embrace what the owners are trying to do… they are trying to make the NBA about drafting smart, spending your dollars wisely and having good coaching… not allowing it to be about the depth of the owners pocket or a willingness to spend.

     Under the current system it is almost impossible for Utah to land a marquee free agent unless they over pay… it’s also a lot harder for them to compete in the West when the Lakers can lap them in spending.

     This is not about the fans… this is about fixing the business between the Players and the owners and once this is solved, they’ll care about you again.

8. Lee

   I’m sure you don’t think the Knicks can get Paul in a trade, and quite frankly neither do i. But if a trade were to happen, what could you see the Hornets receiving in return?

   • Steve Kyler

     Hard to say, we need a trade system first. If there is a liberal cap, then you can get a lot more in return…

     If the system is overly restrictive on trades then it would be harder to swing an equitable deal.

     I can tell you having spoken to both sides of this, neither the Hornets nor Chris Paul are looking for a trade right now.

9. dyrese

   ithink the knicks should sign tayshaun prince he can play the 2‚3 great defender rebounder for his postion n bcuz amare n melo hed get easy baskets he can also play n a 3 forward lineup like sw not to mention playing next to billups would probably enhance his game

   • Steve Kyler

     Tay wants to go to a winner, so it’s possible… the one thing to keep in mind he is not coming for the NBA minimum, there is still interest in Tay and he is a west coast guy.

     The Knicks won’t have much to offer and frankly, they seem like they are trying to flesh in a good core of role players around Chauncey, Melo and Amare, I don’t see them trying to marry themselves to an older player just does not fit what they have been trying to do .

10. BeeMagic

    Hi Steve,
    The salary situation with the Magic regardless of the new CBA is not a good one. Do you believe DW could show patience and commit to go forward because of Mr. DeVos, more say with “team” changes to get to a championship line up and creating his own championship legacy where no one could previously?
    Thanks

    • Steve Kyler

      Are you asking would Deron Williams take an exception based deal to be in Orlando because of an 85-year old owner?… The short answer is no. Players in their prime don’t leave money on the table on the promise of something bigger down the road…

      First that’s illegal to be offered by the Magic and second every player is a knee injury away from being out of the league.

      Deron will go to the team that offers him the most money with the best chance to win now.

      Unless something truly unexpected happens, it won’t be Orlando.

11. devonte wilson

    iman shumpert over/under 10pts and 5 ast per game?

    • Steve Kyler

      Let me put this in perspective… to average 1 point per game in 82 games, you need to score 82 points… so are you asking me will Iman Shumpert score 5 baskets a game?.. If he averages from the field what Carmelo does (46% from the field) is Iman Shumpert getting 10 shots a game?— no..

      On the asists… 5 dimes a game as an average is hard for a non-starter… if he gets in the starting lineup or plays big minutes he is capable of that because of the scorers he has around him.

      Not sold he’ll get the time or the looks… he has the talent and the skill, not sold he’ll get the opportunity even in a D’Antoni system…

      Toney Douglas played 81 games, averaging 24 minutes and started nine of them and averaged 10 points and 3 assists… so thats likely Iman ceiling unless injury strikes or he erupts as a rookie.

12. Marcus

    Ηow well do you think Marcus Thornton will play next year with the Kings. Don’t you think that Sacramento isn’t the right place for him with so many other scorers in the team?

    • Steve Kyler

      Marcus is a restricted free agent so Sacramento will have to pay him assuming restricted free agency exists in the next labor deal. Marcus has not been a big money earner so he’ll go where the dollars are.

      As for the fit… I think he’d rather be in a situation that has a clearly defined role, with the Kings he’ll share time with Jimmer and Tyreke.

      Marcus has proven he can play spark-plug really well, so if he gets his money I think he’d be OK being there.

13. Tyler

    NBAtv viewers was an alltime low last week. They need to get a deal done!

    • Steve Kyler

      Not sure that’s a factor for the NBA… they sold the operating rights to NBATV to Turner, so that check is in the bank… its Turner’s issue now.

14. trevor

    Do you think the magic should start Gilbert and just pray for the best? Also i think jameer would be great off the bench as a scorer. Jrich is most likely gone leaving jj to start, also I feel turk is the better amnesty cut as I feel he is done as an effective consistent player and we won’t have cap space either way until 2013 anyway

    • Steve Kyler

      No. As good as Gilbert can be in stretches, he is never going to be the guy you want him to be.

      I also doubt Jameer plays happy camper going to the bench, so you would likely have to trade him if he’s not your starter.

      On the Amnesty cut, cutting Hedo only saves the DeVos’ money, it doesn’t open cap space or give the team trade flexibility.

      Hedo is not a problem; he can play a role and if you’re going to paying why not keep him. It’s not like the Magic need the roster spot.

15. Dan

    Hey Steve, how would you remember Nash on and off the court when he retires? Also, do you see him being traded or leaving via free agency assuming there is a season and which team would be the best fit for him?

    • Steve Kyler

      First, no I do not see him being traded unless he asks for it and he’s made it clear he’s happy in Phoenix…

      As for how I’ll remember him… underrated and underestimated… he is not the biggest of guys. He is not the most athletic of guys but I challenge you to find a guy that keeps himself in better shape. Always comes to play and is as good with the rock both in passing and shooting.

      Nash is almost 50% from the field, over 40% from three and over 90% from the foul line… that’s unheard of in basketball

      Off the court, Nash is not in my circle, but I can tell every time I have dealt with him he has always be nice, humorous and easy going. He doesn’t take himself too seriously and is surprisingly humble for a guy with two MVPs.

16. matt

    DeRozan for P.George and 1 first rounder

    • Steve Kyler

      I’ll admit to drinking a bit more now that regular season games have been lost to drown out my misery, but even this one sounds too crazy for me.

17. matt

    is Hibbert ever going to leave indy?

    • Steve Kyler

      Ever?… Ever is a mighty long time.

      I can tell you Indiana loves Roy and will pay him, so I doubt seriously that Roy ends up anywhere be Indy for a while.

18. matt

    Do u think LBJ is the best overall basketball player in the world? also, do u think kobe is the best closer?

    • Steve Kyler

      No… I do not think LBJ is the best player in the world… He gets a lot of hype and I see how freakish he is for his size and skill set, however not there on best in the world… For my money I;d take Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul or Derrick Rose before LeBron — they tend to show up in big game situations.

19. Virgil

    As a person who lives off of the arena revenue, all I can say is how selfish both parties are. I understand the issues but they are millionaires and billionaires. What am I to do now that I’m out of work and can’t feed my family of four. Where is my recourse

    • Steve Kyler

      I have empathy for your situation, but I can say this is not about you… Its not. You do not factor into the equation until a deal is made.

      Let me say this, would losing a few weeks of the season be better than your team going bankrupt or worse yet moving to another city?

      Also, awfully shortsighted of you not to have planned for this.. this has been in the works for two years.

      I know that sounds a little cold, but we have been planning for this moment for a while, everyone hired here has known this situation was possible., when you make your living off of sports you have to plan for this kind of stupidity.

      Not sure what you do specifically for the arena, but a lot of missed dates will either get replaced if there is a deal soon, or they will get filled with alternate events.

20. Henry

    In order for a deal to be consummated, must each owner approve (i.e., require 100%)? Otherwise, I don’t see how the Cavs, Clippers, etc. approve a 2012 draft in which each team has equal chance of winning.

    • Steve Kyler

      No each Owner would not have to approve… majority rules, 16 agree and its a done deal… Like I said, its never happened so there is no blueprint for it… There is almost no chance that the Owners fight over how a single draft would play out.

      I am out of time… thanks for all the questions. Make sure you are following me on Twitter (@stevekylerNBA). See you next week at the same time.