NBA Rumors Chat With Steve Kyler 10/25/12

1. Roger

   How good could have Benjamin Wilson been?

   • Steve Kyler

     Welcome in everyone. Hope the week was good to you. I am really ready for this ugly preseason ball to be over, but fortunately lots of questions lined up so lets knock them out.

     Hard to say, he was a great high school player. He had a nasty jumper and being able to shoot and see the floor as well as he did tends to translate well to the pro game. Always tragic to see someone with so much talent taken so early.

2. Roger

   What would your All NBA Team look like starting from 2002 to now?

   • Steve Kyler

     I try to give serious consideration to every question asked of me… you asked it, I should try and answer it, but seriously… do you think I think about things like this while chatting?

     I see these kinds of questions as trap questions… I list six guys from the top of my head and then you guys line up in the comments section to blast me because I left off your favorite player.

     I don’t think about things like this… I just don’t. I don’t spend any brain power on it.

     If you are asking me to pick the by position one team from players drafted from 2002 to now….

     PG – Chris Paul
     SG – Dwyane Wade
     SF – LeBron James
     F – LaMarcus Aldridge/Al Horford/Kevin Love — pick one.
     C – Dwight Howard

     Let the how could you not list ___ rants begin.

3. Deven

   Hi Steve. Now I know this may be a long shot for Kobe Bryant but here it goes: Say he’s against retirement in after the 2014 season is done and decides to come back for another year, does he pull a fast one and sign with another team if the Lakers don’t win a title in the next 2 years?

   • Steve Kyler

     Maybe… but I don;t think Kobe ever wheres another jersey other than a Laker jersey. I also don’t think his body is gonna give him more than 2 more years… he’s breaking down so much now… hard to see him finding the fountain of youth between now and July of 2014.

     I think I could see him doing a Kevin Garnett/Tim Duncan move… signing a smaller deal in LA to give them cap room to add more weapons before I see him leaving – he’s too competitive to leave and a chase a ring. But he is Kobe, and you never know what he’ll do.

4. Deven

   What’s the latest on the two Andrews? Bogut and Bynum?

   • Steve Kyler

     76ers say Bynum won’t play until he’s pain free, but swear there is nothing structurally wrong with him. They are playing it safe. I have said this a few times… with Bynum its not about the 1st 20 games of the season, its the last 20 and they know it too.

     On Bogut, he has seen his surgeon a few times and they say his ankle is healing on schedule. The team refuses to name a return date, but says everything is where its supposed to be. Like Bynum, they have no plans to rush him back for regular season games in November unless he is 100% and has proven that in practice.

5. Deven

   Does Harden sign that extension with OKC before the season starts, or is he as good as gone?

   • Steve Kyler

     Both sides want a deal… but not reaching a deal means nothing because the Thunder can match anything he’s offered. In fact they’d save a little letting someone else set the price because the other team can only offer a 4-year deal at lower raises.

     What I have been told is Harden wants a deal now and would do something with incentives that get him at or near the MAX… he’s not leaving money on the table, but he wants to stay and that generally gets a deal done.

     If they don’t, the Thunder will match what he gets in Free Agency – assuming he continues to play at a high level.

     Remember he was a ghost in the post-season, so thats got to factor into the thinking a little… but I have been told there is almost no risk of the Thunder losing him and that both sides want to make a deal.

6. Johnny Cordoba

   Hey steve. How are you? So i haven’t been able to watch any of the games so far but I’ve seen good things out of Andrew Nicholson in the box scores and highlight reels. I know its just preseason of his rookie year but what do you think of the big man so far? possible 15 maybe even 20 and 10 guy? Thanks.

   • Steve Kyler

     Andrew is good… during the draft I asked like 12 executives to name a player under the radar that would surprise and 12 of 12 said Andrew… so this really isn’t a surprise.

     I have said this about both Andrew and Kyle O’Quinn… this is what Kyle is going to be as a pro. He’ll get a little sharper in his game, but he’s not going to explode into anything more than a good solid role player.

     Nicholson however has so much more room to grow as a player, especially if he works hard on his body — he’s got some baby fat going on — and his feel for the NBA game.

     If he keeps working, I think he is capable of being a 20 and 10 guys in the NBA, but I wouldn’t expect that on a night to night basis, because that would put him in the top 15 and he’s not that good.

7. Johnny Cordoba

   hey again. So what’s the deal with DeQuan Jones? Is it looking like he is gonna stay or is he out. Personally I think the guy is a blast to watch, even if he only gets to play in the blowouts (which will probably be often this year and not the good kind)

   • Steve Kyler

     I think he’ll make the team… It really sounds like he’s got a spot. I think that unfortunate for guys like Ish Smith and Chris Johnson, because there is a numbers game that means others guys have to go.

     The Roster sits at 18 now, so three more guys have to go… Chris Johnson is one. Ish Smith is probably two. Justin Harper is probably three. — Ish and Harp have guaranteed money owed, so they would be paying them to go away.

8. AJ

   IF the Suns start out slow and a playoff berth looks unlikely, can you see Gortat traded? What do you think it would take to pry him away?

   • Steve Kyler

     No. Suns says he is a core guy for them. Don’t see them entertaining that, he has exceeded their expectations.

9. AJ

   How do you see the fight for 7-8 shaking out in the West? Dallas, Golden State, Minnesota, and Utah all seem to have a fighting chance. Portland and Phoenix could be dark horses too.

   • Steve Kyler

     Until I see Dirk and Golden State healthy, I have no faith in those two teams as playoff teams. Same with Minnesota. Utah is in, in my mind, as is Portland. They are too good talent wise and have a lot fewer questions.

     Not sure I am there on Phoenix, they have a good team… need to see it work before I say playoff team.

10. Philip Fletcher

    Here is a reasonable trade, Lakers get LeBron, Miami gets Kobe, Howard, Nash, that seems about fair, greedy Lakers fans get what they deserve.

    • Steve Kyler

      Crazy talk.

      Kobe has a no-trade clause and there is no scenario in which Miami trades LeBron.

11. Philip Fletcher

    Forgot to add from previous statement, what do you think?

    • Steve Kyler

      I think in the race to create conversation, sometimes people do not think about how foolish the basis of a comment is.

12. Maestro

    I know its early but after watching the Lakers/Clippers preseason game i have the following observation:True or False

    World Peace is in great shape
    Clippers offense is 110x better than it was last year
    Eric Bledsoe is a back up point (struggles with decisions)
    Robert Sacre is a steal- reminds me of Brook lopez all offense and no rebounds
    Steve Nash looks lost in the princeton offense
    Both teams are real good

    • Steve Kyler

      World Peace is in great shape —> true, he’s taken the off-season seriously.

      Clippers offense is 110x better than it was last year —> true, funny what an entire training camp and off-season together can do.

      Eric Bledsoe is a back up point (struggles with decisions) —> true, especially with Chris Paul in front of him. Weaknesses get multiplied because of how good Chris is.

      Robert Sacre is a steal- reminds me of Brook lopez all offense and no rebounds —> Love that guy. He is all hustle and energy. Fun to be around. Crazy humble.

      Steve Nash looks lost in the princeton offense —> everyone usually does.

      Both teams are real good —> Not sure I can say that about a winless Laker team, but yes, lots of talent on both squads… they need to meet in the Conference Finals for the chance to rep the West, would be a CLASSIC. Oh Please Basketball gods, do not give us a first round Lakers/Clippers match up.

13. Cain

    What do you think the ceiling for Jae Crowder will be? He reminds me of Gerald Wallace.

    • Steve Kyler

      Hard to say… ceiling has to do with opportunity. Dallas likes him. He’s been awesome in pre-season, but if you rewind far enough so was Roddy Beaubois and Rick Carlisle fell out of love when real games started to be played.

      Can’t reach your potential from the bench, so we’ll have to see how much trust Rick has in his rookie when games start to matter.

14. SatBchMagicer

    Hi Steve, Magic roster now at 18; I next see Chris Johnson/Justin Harper waived- which leaves ORL at 16, with one more player to be cut(I also see ORL at start of regular season with 15 on roster); Who is final waiver: Richardson-McRoberts-O’Quinn-Jones(listed from highest/lowest salary owed order)?

    • Steve Kyler

      I am sure Orlando hopes they can trade one of those guys rather than eat their deals… they have some extra picks they could toss into the mix.

      I think Jones and O’Quinn are staying.

15. SatBchMagicer

    Hedo Turkoglu has appeared a ‘little spotty’ in some of his preseason outings; since he is the SF starter, are there any ‘lingering’ injury concerns with him- one week from regular season start?

    • Steve Kyler

      No… he says he’s healthy. This is what a 33-year old player not known for conditioning looks like. Hedo is actually in the best pre-season shape I can re-call, but he’s still Hedo and he’s learning a new offense that has a faster tempo and more cutting and driving that standing and shooting.

16. The Boss Of Hoopsworld

    How good can my Blazers be this season? What you think about Damian Lillard and Meyers Leonard?

    • Steve Kyler

      Got to stay healthy. But they have enough talent and the right mix of young and old to be a playoff team… not sure they are top 5, but they are in the mix for top eight for sure.

      Lillard is a rookie of the year candidate and Myers is a beast. He’s looked a little lost at times in the offense, but he is such an animal around the rim… reminds me of a bigger Kenneth Faried – all kinds of nasty hustle.

17. The Boss Of Hoopsworld

    Why are people acting like the lakers gonna just automatically get to the finals, they still have question marks, Nash is old with no defense, Kobe stay banged up Gasol overrated and Dwight coming off of back surgery….they still won’t be as good as Thunder….your thoughts?

    • Steve Kyler

      Lots of “ifs” associated with the Lakers… If Kobe’s knee isn’t a problem… if Dwight’s back can hold up… if Nash can thrive in the Princeton offense… if the Locker room can buy into Mike Brown’s style of coaching.

      Not sure there that many “ifs” in OKC… in fact I think there are more proven answers there and the team dynamics works really well.

      I have always put the Thunder as the top team in the West. I think LA is a smart second, with San Antonio and the Clippers in the mix as three and four, flip a coin.

      The Thunder won 71% of their games last year… with no improvement at all they win 58 games this year… if they improve slightly, thats a 60 win team.

18. Cameron, Hawaii

    Who do you see most likely traded this season and to what team: Rudy Gay, Tyreke Evans, or Josh Smith? I’m thinking Tyreke.

    • Steve Kyler

      Tyreke is possible… Josh is unlikely… and who knows with Rudy Gay… the Grizz will likely have a new owner officially later today and they have a payroll of $77,098,154 this year and $80,275,349 next year.

      At some point, the economics will have to change in Memphis, especially if they are not a top 4 team in the West. You can’t be that much into the luxury tax in Memphis and be the 7th seed.

19. Jimmy

    Hey Steve, kg doesn’t mind dropping an elbow or knee into opposition guards running around his screens, do u think he might plant a knee into ray on opening night? He doesn’t seem happy about ray leaving

    • Steve Kyler

      Having spent a lot of time around KG over the years… he’ll do whatever he has to get an advantage over you. I don’t think he sees who he’s playing… he just plays. I have watched him crush guys in pickup games that are close friends… he;s just a mean nasty guy like that.

      I expect contact from KG, not because of Ray, but because thats how KG plays.

20. James

    WTF is going on in Houston.. I watched the game last night and they looked terrible. I don’t understand why Kev isn’t playing the rooks?

    White getting 9mins? If I’m the coach I get him out there for 25 and see if he’s worth the team bus.

    • Steve Kyler

      Please tell me you are not asking me to explain Kevin McHale’s coaching style (or lack there of) — coaches us practice time to gauge rookies and non-core guys. They use game situations to try and find rotations and lineups that work.

      Its not Kevin’s job to develop guys… its to win games, and he’s going to do whatever he can to win games and if that screws development, it screws development. The 48-minutes you see in games is not the only time guys play and practice.

      Houston is royally screwed up, so not sure what you expected. Its gonna be a train wreck all year.

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