NBA Rumors Chat With Steve Kyler 10/27/11

HOOPSWORLD Publisher Steve Kyler will hold his weekly chat at 3:30pm EST on Thursdays. Drop in your questions regarding NBA trades, the NBA Draft, roster moves or questions about your team.

  1. Giovanni Antonini

    Hey Steve enjoy your chats/twitter, always very informative. Do you think Dan Gilbert is doing a good job as owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers? I’ve been hearing some negative things about him in these lockout negotiations. I’ve always supported Dan and i was just wondering what you thought?

    • Steve Kyler

      I don’t have much of an opinion on Dan… but he is an average NBA owner. Obviously he lost LeBron which soured some on him, but overall he spends on his team. He genuinely cares about winning.

      I have a couple of friends with that organization and they constantly talk about how first class everything is, so thats a good thing, he’s not milking the team and he is willing to spend to win. Hopefully this draft yields studs and the Cavs can jump back into the thick of the east in a couple of years.

  2. Antonette

    Are the San Antonio Spurs working on a trade? Or they’re just looking to sign some free agents?

    • Steve Kyler

      Their owner is working on a labor deal.

      Most teams have stayed out of the trade talk mainly because until we have a system there is no point.

      It won’t surprise me to see them in a trade simply because of how active they were around the draft, but I wouldn’t expect much to drop once a deal is made, more of a made dash to complete free agency.

  3. john

    u must play fanatasy nba….5 fantasy sleepers/busts?

  4. john

    should toronto amnesty klieza or calderon?

    • Steve Kyler

      Why?….

      The Raptors have $52.27 million in commits this year and $43 million next year. They are under the cap and under the tax.

      I could make a case for parting ways with Jose Calderon, but its not like either are boat anchors to the team and you have a new head coach that might be able to use them.

      If the Raptors used the Amnesty provision on Jose they’d likely trim 75% of his contract value off the books (this hasn’t been written yet, so its open for change), so that would move them to $44 million this year in usable space and $35 million next year.

      There are a number of teams with cap room this year so Toronto would likely have to over pay for free agents in an average free agent class, but holding the line this year and waiting until 2012 could make sense, but even then its not like Toronto is gonna steal Dwight Howard or Chris Paul.

      For my dollar… Jose Calderon isn’t a bad enough asset to just pay him to go away and plus he’ll be an expiring contract soon, that might return something of value in trade.

  5. john

    what are your thoughts of soloman alabi

    • Steve Kyler

      Great guy… very humble. Hard worker.

      I spent some time with him early this summer and he looks like a different player. During Summer League play last summer he was slow and plodding and could barely get off the ground.

      This summer, a year removed from knee surgery, he has bounce. He actually is playing above the rim again and is really powerful on the block.

      I expect big thing from Solo this year.

      Coach Casey raved about him after their mini-camp in late June before the lockout. I talked with DeMar DeRozan about him last month and he mirrored what others were saying, that Solo looks like he can play, so we’ll have to see how it comes together.

  6. Dong of Dayton

    Hey Steve,

    If Kmart leaves Denver, who should Denver be looking to sign? Or do they plan on starting Farreid if that happens?

    • Steve Kyler

      Kmart is gone… he signed in China so he is not in the Nuggets plans until he gains his release from China.

      He also trashed the team pretty aggressively on his way out.

      I am sure they will try and fit Kenneth in and from what I have heard he’s been a beast — they call him “Manimal” because of how aggressive he is in pickup games.

      Keep in mind the Nuggets have just $29.6 million in salary commitments, so they will be a major free agent player.

  7. Chris

    Do we know who the 8 teams were that were profitable last year? If big-spending or big-market teams are the profitable ones, wouldn’t that suggest the “unbalance” is due to something more than overpaying players?

    • Steve Kyler

      Those teams have not been named, but it’s not what you think… teams like Dallas didn’t turn a profit because of what they spend despite earning 5th most in the league.

      Market size is not the root problem… The issue at hand is how much of every dollar collected is paid out… it costs the NBA more than 43 cents to generate a dollar.

      NBA teams are not profitable because to compete for a championship you have to typically spend more than you can generate when you factor in 57% goes to players.

      Now revenue sharing will lessen that burden and we will see about $200million move to the owners side of the table in the new BRI split… those two issues combined will get most teams to the water line of profitability. A tighter salary cap will be the final element that pushes everyone back to profitability.

      Most people want to point to what a specific player was paid, and while signing the right players matter, as a whole the NBA has to pay 57% whether that’s in contract dollars or in a lump sum check… Most teams try and add players feeling like maybe this player will be enough to push my team into the Conference Finals and I can get a greater return, but the truth is each team gets charged for what they did not spend, so you pay it whether you sign a player or not.

      Now I will qualify that and say that giving a dollar to LeBron James will return more than giving a dollar to say Ben Gordon, so there is something to be said about return on investment when it comes to the value of contracts teams give out, but there are also issues like market demand that remove negotiating power from teams.

      Take LeBron, even if Miami wanted to try and negotiate with him he could pick his team… when Rashard Lewis hit free agency the Sonics set his price… Cleveland offered to do a sign and trade as did the Rockets… so when Orlando came calling they had no choice but to meet the price. When the Bulls signed Luol Deng to an $80 million deal, it was because the Utah Jazz were offering a sign and trade worth more than that… Teams don’t have a lot of control over market demand, so its either meet the players price or lose the player… there are rarely ways for teams to keep high level players without committing major dollars.

  8. steveS

    Haven’t read much about trading rules, but it seems to me that trading restrictions in the just-expired CBA were much too restrictive, precluding win/win deals for both teams where, say, salaries wouldn’t line up but other factors (youth, talent level) could compensate. Wouldn’t less restrictive trading regulations enhance fan interest, make it easier for teams to rebuild, shed unwanted players, bring in new blood? Do you agree? Is this being discussed?

    • Steve Kyler

      It has been discussed and from what’s been said both sides agree the trade rules have to change a little… the Players proposed something like a 200% range versus the old 125% range… Owners wanted a slightly lower threshold so it won’t surprise me to see something in the 175% range on trades, but they would have to fit into a new cap structure.

  9. tony

    If no deal by Monday this woube a horrible pr disaster. I honestly finally feel that this is real am I crazy?

    • Steve Kyler

      As I have said a dozen time… they are not that far apart so reaching a deal is possible if both sides want it and it seems both sides want it.

      But as I have also said… this is not about the fans, the media or public opinion – this is about fixing the business for the next 10 years. It sucks, and everyone hates how this goes, but the truth is this has to happen in order for everything else to happen.

      I think we’ll see a deal… we are close enough and it will not surprise me to see camps open in the NBA in two weeks and pre-season to be taking place mid-November with a late November start to the season.

  10. willie

    hi if dwight doesnt sign the ext and he does want 2 go 2 la would you send him 2 the clippers 4 blake griffin and deandre jordan and any chance tmac comes home go magic

    • Steve Kyler

      Dwight is going to have a lot of say in where he lands because of the power of his free agency.

      I doubt seriously that the Clippers would trade Blake Griffin for anyone, they feel like they have a franchise cornerstone already and as good as Dwight can be, I don’t see the Clippers moving Blake to get after him… I think anyone else on the roster is viable, but not Blake.

      On McGrady he torched too many people and too many bridges on his way out of Orlando… I don’t see it as possible for him to ever return. Keep in mind he is still boo’d every time he touches the ball now and he is connected with one of the worst season in magic history… not sure anyone wants a return engagement.

  11. Josh

    Steve,

    Lets assume the Jazz dont make the playoffs next year. They will get a top 14 draft pick. They also have the warriors pick as well but do you know if that is protected at all? Do you also think the Jazz could trade Milsap, Jefferson, Harris for another lotto pick for this upcoming year?

    • Steve Kyler

      Hard to say what anyones trade value will be in the new NBA economy. ..

      Are you asking could one of those three or any combination yield a top level draft picks? Sure… Millsap is a border-line All-Star… Al Jeff is a legit center… and Devin Harris is a serviceable starting point guard.

      Keep in mind teams that are in line for top flight picks are bad teams, all three of the players you mentioned are starters in the NBA so it’s about need… teams like the Clippers, The Kings and the Raptors need another draft pick like they need a hole in their head.

  12. Dave

    If you were in charge of the Vikings, would you take a tackle (kalil, martin) or a WR (blackmon, jeffery) in the upcoming draft?

    G.S. gets- Bosh, Joel, Noris cole, 2nd rounder from mia

    Miami gets- Steph curry, Biedrins, Demarcus cousins

    Sacramento gets- ekpe udoh, dexter pittman, first rounder from g.s.

    I realize you and your buddy Ingram hate Bosh but he should be able to bring some great talent in return.

    • Steve Kyler

      For my money… Tackle… Wideouts in the draft are so hit and miss, look around the league; lots of productive guys at Wideout that were second or third day picks that are just fine

      The HEAT are not going to trade Chris Bosh after getting to the NBA Finals with him on the roster… equally there is ZERO, I mean ZERO chance the Warriors deal Steph Curry… even less shot at Sacramento trading DeMarcus Cousins.

  13. greg

    Hey Steve, O.Smith says he won’t trade DH and LA holds team options for Odom and Bynum after this season, when Dwight can walk. Could LA clear enough cap to sign Dwight by letting LO And Bynum go? Thanks

    • Steve Kyler

      No… even if the Lakers used the potential Amnesty roster cut on Ron Artest’ $7 million, they’d still have Kobe’s $27 million and Pau’s $19 million plus roster guys they’d have to dump via trade. Take a look at wants on the books, they’d need a lot of help:

      Player  2012-2013
      Kobe Bryant  $27,849,149
      Pau Gasol  $19,000,000
      Andrew Bynum  $16,100,000
      Lamar Odom  $8,200,000
      Ron Artest  $7,258,960
      Luke Walton  $5,800,000
      Steve Blake  $4,000,000
      Derek Fisher  $3,400,000
      TOTAL  $91,608,109

      Even after dropping Bynum and Odom for nothing the Lakers would have over $60 million cap commits. They would have to do a lot of trades for nothing in return to get rid of everyone but Bryant and Gasol.

  14. MARK

    1) Where do the players and/or owners figure out when its too expensive too lose the season vs. what they will gain?
    2) Are the Lakers at a disadvantage now that there will be make up games and more back to backs in the NBA schedule if the players and owners sign an agreement soon?

    • Steve Kyler

      I think we are there on Owners/Players understanding whats at stake.

      No one has seen what the “new” schedule will look like, but yes, older teams will have tougher schedules, as will teams with limited depth.

      The Lakers also get the double whammy of having a new head coach and system to learn.

      So short answer is yes… Lakers, Celtics, Spurs and Mavericks all have older teams that will struggle with a compressed season, expect more off-night games… The Spurs are notorious for giving up a game here and there in favor of rest. Younger teams like the Kings, Pacers, Grizzlies and Thunder will benefit because they have youth and depth.

  15. Alec

    So when can coaches,etc talk to players? After a verbal agreement or after eveything is written up?

    • Steve Kyler

      Once the NBA officially lifts the Lockout…

      In 1999 that happened on January 20th after reaching a verbal agreement on January 6th… Regular season games got under way the week of February 5th… So 30 days from handshake and we were playing basketball again.

  16. Eldad

    In his latest chat, Larry Coon said that the players see the biggest issues being in the teams mismanaging expenses not related to player salaries.
    So, in other words, players who have 4-5mil$ a year as an average salary, would like that the owners leeave their salaries as they are, and cut the salary of, say, arena workers, who earn what, 20k a year??

    • Steve Kyler

      No… the players point to the salaries executives earn for ruining teams… the bad coaching hires that some teams are still paying salaries for… family members on the payroll that serve no operational function.

      How many times through this process have you heard Billy Hunter comment about “re-tread” executives bounces from team to team… Its been a lot.

  17. Eddie

    Does the Heat need a true point guard? What do you think about LeBron’s Tweets regarding Jamal Crawford and Steve Nash? I’ve also heard about Baron Davis through amnesty. Your thoughts?

    • Steve Kyler

      Interesting… the HEAT have no cash to offer and considering Crawford has made it clear he wants to be paid and paid well I’d scratch him off the list unless his market evaporates.

      Nash is a pipe dream, he has a final year left on his deal so he’d be 2 years away.

      I can tell you TJ Ford would love to be there, and he’d come fairly cheap.We’ll have to wait and see what actually ends up in the labor deal in terms of trades and exceptions, but typical of LeBron, he talks about things he is not always the most informed about.

      I am sure he’d love to play with both guys (Crawford has been in a lot of these exhibition games), but neither guy mentioned come to Miami on vets minimum deal.

  18. Jerry

    Is there going to be a “franchise player” tag/deal of some sort. I have been a Magic Season ticker holder–but if the Magic lose DH, I am going to read books instead of watching BB. It totally sucks to lose a Shaq, LaBron, DH, etc

    • Steve Kyler

      Does not sound like it… whats been talked about is that contracts would be three years in length for a player leaving his team… 4 years for players who stay and a possible 5th year for franchise players. Combine those two additional years and that there may not be sign and trades allowed and you get about a $30-$40 million swing if a player leaves his home team.

      So in Dwight’s case he can opt-out in Orlando and re-sign using Bird Rights to a five year deal worth roughly $90-$100 million depending on how raises are computed or he can walk, losing his Bird Rights, and sign a three year deal with another team worth about $51 to $55 million – three years at whatever max is allowed under the cap, likely $15 million could be less.

      Guys I am out of time… thanks for all the questions. Make sure you are following me on Twitter (@stevekylerNBA). I’ll be back with you next week at the same time. Here is hoping for a labor deal.