NBA Rumors Chat With Steve Kyler 1/31/13

1. Deven

   How could the Celtics sell KG or Pierce on a change of scenery and go to a title-contending team?

   • Steve Kyler

     Welcome in everyone… first big trade drops and that tends to set things in motion. No one wants to be left without a dance partner, so things should heat up from here. Lots to get to, so lets get after it.

     Not sure how either would take that. Pierce doesn’t want to move and neither does KG. Kevin has a no-trade clause. he came back because of his relationship with Doc Rivers, not sure he agrees to a change.

     I think its always situational. Where are you sending me and who will be there when I get there.

     Rudy Gay wanted out of Memphis, but never considered that it would be to Toronto… that is going to weigh in on whether each guy would agree to a move. Where are you sending me and whats going to be there when I get there.

2. Deven

   Is Bogut going to be on a minutes limit again?

   • Steve Kyler

     I would expect one. He didn’t like the concept, but until he proves he can handle the work and be productive you have to be cautious.

   • Steve Kyler

     I would expect him to have one. He didn’t like the concept, but until he proves he can handle the work and be productive you have to be cautious.

3. Peter

   Hi Steve, LAL are heating up. Any chance they can sneak past Hou and Portland and get into the playoffs? I’m not a fan of the Lakers so I would love to see them miss out on the big party.

   • Steve Kyler

     The Lakers at 20-26 would need to go 23-13 (.633) for the balance of the season to get into the playoffs.

4. Alex in Burbank

   Steve, I’m posting this question before tonight’s LAL/PHX game. I will go out on a limb here and guess Lakers won! If the Lakers finish this 7 game road trip with a record of 5-2, would you say they’re back? Or will they still need more games before you give an opinion? Thanks!

   • Steve Kyler

     You guessed wrong.

     This roster is fundamentally flawed… the pieces don’t fit together. I think they are better than their record talent wise, but unless it absolutely clicks, it breaks.

     What I would liken it to is a threading a needle… when you get it right, its great. But the margin for error is so small, that you can’t be “about there” and it work. All or nothing.

5. Wil

   Hi Steve, love the chats. I wanted to challenge the notion that teams need to ‘cash out’ their aging veterans (i.e. the Celtics). While I agree that teams like Utah (with two players in their prime, with ending contracts, who don’t fit their long term plans) should make a trade, I don’t see the same urgency with the Celtics. It is hard enough to get value on marquee players, but what teams get for cashing out their older players is very limited and the spiral effect of basically moving into rebuilding mode is detrimental. No one questions San Antonio’s approach, so why the rush to trade other team’s players?

   • Steve Kyler

     San Antonio is so unique in that they have everyone on the same page. Their very best players buy into completely. There is trust and communication that just does not exist in other organizations. They have a special thing there.

     As for cashing out veterans… talent in the NBA is like the stock market. Buy Low (draft, clever free agent signings) and Sell High. What you do not want is to lose your investment.

     Take Paul Pierce for example. The Celtics have paid Paul more than $152.6 million dollars in his 15 year NBA career. Do you wait until he has zero value or do you trade him and get some kind of future return on that investment?

     At some point you have to make sure you get value back. What you don’t want is to be the last guy holding his contract and he retires or walks away as a free agent.

6. LA in LA

   Hey Kyler, 3 questions for you:

   1)Not that I expect Gay to end up in Toronto, but why would Toronto be reluctant to move T.Ross? I don’t see how they’d have enough minutes to satisfy all DD, Gay and T.Ross (assuming he pans out) long term?

   2) If Earl Clark keeps playing like this, what kind of deal would you expect to him to get? I’d think he’d get around what Jordan Hill got (2 years, $8 mil), maybe with a extra year or million thrown in and a team option.

   3) Can you see any scenario where Jamison resigns with Lakers? I feel that regardless of season’s end (no playoffs, deep run, title) he’ll want to leave for a place where he can get minutes. I also am not sure the Lakers would want him back.

   • Steve Kyler

     1)Not that I expect Gay to end up in Toronto, but why would Toronto be reluctant to move T.Ross?

     — They like Terrence for the future, but more importantly Memphis could not justify to their veteran roster that a rookie was the answer to trading Rudy Gay. T Ross was too far out to matter to a “win-now” Memphis team. Tayshaun Prince was a better fit. Tay is a better shooter, a better defender and a better teammate. Rudy was extremely unhappy in Memphis. Tay fits the roster better, he doesn’t need nearly the touches Rudy “required”

     2) If Earl Clark keeps playing like this, what kind of deal would you expect to him to get?

     — Hard to say. Earl will go to the highest dollar situation. He has too. Not sure the Lakers will give him a long-term deal. I know he is THRILLED with the situation. I talked to him last week about it.

     3) Can you see any scenario where Jamison resigns with Lakers?

     — Not sure how much longer he wants to play. I know this season has not gone like he hoped, so that may weigh into it. I think a lot of it is whats the roster look like and do the Lakers want him back. They may want to go younger.

7. LA in LA

   Hey, so that trade just happened… so:

   1) Is Ed davis going to be the back up Center? I don’t see where he fits in the Gasol-Zbo-Arthur mix.

   2) and do you like this trade for all sides?

   • Steve Kyler

     1) Is Ed davis going to be the back up Center?
     — He will play from the bench, but as far as defined role, not sure there is one yet. Ed was acquired for his future potential not necessarily what he contributes today. However when you combine the two moves that Memphis made… they replaced Maresse Speights with Ed Davis and they replaced Hadaddi with Jon Leuer, they replaced Rudy gay with Tayshaun Prince. I think those are upgrades at every position. Rudy had star potential, but never lived up to it and wanted out of Memphis badly. factor all of that together and this was a solid upgrade for Memphis.

     I think Memphis will roll Ed out and see what he gives them. The Grizz second unit just got scary in this deal, especially if Austin Daye can give them anything at all.

     2) and do you like this trade for all sides?
     — Yes. Toronto gets a possible All-Star in Rudy Gay in exchange for a guy walking away in July. Ed Davis hurts, but Jonas gets his spot going forward. Detroit now gets more than $30 million to play with this summer and can no entertain Rod Stuckey offers and Memphis checked off a lot of needs boxes between the two deals they did… they got younger talent, they get a proven guy to replace Rudy. They get some draft assets and some cash to buy into the first round this year – that is a pretty good return for a guy that asked them to trade him.

8. Darren C

   Do you think Jazz will end making a move? All this talk about Al Jeff and Millsap is making my head hurt. I’d don’t think they will pull the trigger and possibly look at Sign and Trade deals come summer?

   • Steve Kyler

     I continue to be told the Jazz believe they can re-sign Millsap – I think it always comes down to offers, but if all things are equally I think Al Jefferson is the first guy the Jazz trade, but I don’t see them doing it just to do it. Its got to be a real value proposition.

     Keep in mind Utah is looking at almost $30 million in capspace this summer. They can radically re-invent themselves if they don’t take back contract money, so I think it has to be the right deal.

     As for sign and trade… there is no benefit to the player to do it, unless its to send him to a team over the cap but under the tax, so it is an option.

9. AJ

   Who might have interest in Bargnani?

   • Steve Kyler

     He has to play and prove the elbow is not a problem. I’ll remind you that when Andrew Bogut jacked up his elbow he was never the same – admittedly Bogut’s injury was more sever than Bargs. With what Andrea is owed, he’ll have to prove he’s healthy.

     I don’t think that anyone in the process is going to be picky on a deal. I think Toronto just wants out of him and his money. Put a couple of ending on contracts on the table and you can get him.

     Toronto has $74 million in salary commits next year, so they need to dump Barg’s money at some point before July 1st or they won’t have a mid-level exception, they’ll be over the 2013-2014 Luxury tax line.

10. Jim in CyberSpace

    I haven’t been drinking Laker’s KoolAid all season. Dismiss Mike Brown the way they did. Now Howard is in “Sick Bay” again…Pau is PISSED OFF?
    They won five straight in mid Dec…then what happened?
    I have serious questions about “Chemistry”? From the Owner down…

    • Steve Kyler

      I am going to borrow a Dennis Green concept… “They aren’t who we thought they were”

      Steve Nash is a shell of the player he was even last year. Dwight Howard is banged up. He lacks bounce and energy and he’s unhappy with his role. Pau Gasol isn’t happy either and Kobe is angry from all the losing and he becomes almost unbearable when he’s like that. Factor in injuries and lack of proven depth and this is what you get.

      Other than maybe Metta World Peace, none of the guys they were supposed to matter are playing like they were supposed to play.

      Add in the magnifying glass of massive expectation and a little panic and you get the dumpster fire that has been this Laker season <– I stole that dumpster fire bit from my guys at AM590

      The Lakers are a mess.

      I had a Laker that shall remain nameless tell me in Memphis last week that being a Laker isn’t as pretty as it seems from the outside and the dysfunction that you see on the floor is like that all over the team. That is not really news, the Lakers have been one of the best teams at winning despite their internal dysfunctions as an organization. I just think without Phil Jackson’s amazing ability to keep the guys focused on the bigger picture, the chaos that follows the Lakers has consumed what I would say is a weaker willed team than we’ve ever seen wear a Laker jersey.

      It’s bad and its a shame, because this team on paper should be so much better than they are, but I have had executive after executive caution that NBA games are never won on paper. In this case its true.

11. SatBchMagicer

    Good morning Steve, the Glen Davis broken foot injury prompted some research. Having watched 42 of 45 Magic games in 12/13, was perplexed by their lineups ever since Jan. 14 return from ‘western’ part of road trip at WAS. That night marked Glen’s return to playing, didn’t start/limited minutes. He then starts next 8, with increased playing time to Jan. 27 & 28 well above his norm of 32.1 per game. Meanwhile, his backups- Nicholson/McRoberts, about Jan. 20(last 6 games) have either hardly played/DNP-Coach’s Decision, with their season averages at-14.4/17.0 mins per game respectively prior. Neither of them is noted as injured. This is ‘tied in’ with why I asked about Al Harrington situation in last week’s chat(thanks for enlightening). What’s up- are both in ORL ‘doghouse’? Hope Magic plan on some of their PFs playing rest of season- Vucevic has ‘greatly’ improved, but can’t handle all of in-the-paint duties by himself, rest of 12/13!

    • Steve Kyler

      Keep this in mind on Rookies… we’re at the 42 plus game mark. That is more games, travel and minutes than those guys have ever seen in their lives. I talked with Andrew about where he is at physically and like most rookies he’s feeling the season.

      I think what you are seeing in Orlando is recognition that guys are not nearly 100% and that they need a lighter load before they break down or get injured. Injuries come when the body is over taxed, and I think the Magic are sensitive to the amount of wear they are putting on their young guys.

      I also think Jacque is trying to find some kind of combination that will turn the season a little. The Magic have a constant fear that a losing culture will settle in and they want to make sure thats not the case.

      I don’t think they have enough talent to really win a lot of games, but Jacque wants to win, and he is trying a lot of things to understand what he has. Keep in mind a lot of these guys will be back next year and in the Magic’s off-season program, so getting a real feel for what you have makes sense

12. Jonathan

    Thoughts?

    Mavs get: Horford, E. Clark
    Hawks get: D12, J. Meeks
    Lakers get: Marion, Korver, D. Harris, B. Wright

    Solves Lakes need for a stretch 4 (Marion), more shooting (Korver), backup pg (Harris). Allows them to play Pau at 5 and compete for the last couple years of Kobe’s high-level play while keeping them from taking on contracts beyond 2014 when Lebron takes his talents to Hollywood

    • Steve Kyler

      Sure… it hasn’t been discussed, but sure.

13. Marcus

    Do you see any possible way the Rockets maybe acquire the PF they desire at the deadline or wait til free agency and go after someone like a David West?

    • Steve Kyler

      Houston is feeling pretty good about where they are. Would they make a move? sure. They are not going to sacrifice their flexibility to do it.

      They got the gems of this team because they had flexibility and they are preaching patience on that front. if a Paul Millsap or a David West were available, I think they’d look at it, but the word is they are looking for a younger player to match with Lin, Omer and Harden to form a four-man rotation for the future. Houston is not a title contender this year, so they are not trashing the plan because they are a head of the curve a little.

14. Paul

    What do you think about the Rockets getting KG? I think it gives us what we need. We get great defense and rebounding. It would make us very interesting this year, maybe not championship, but very interesting. If we add KG, we would have the best defending frontline line the league with Parsons, Asik and KG. Your thoughts?

    • Steve Kyler

      Don’t think he’d agree to it and he does not fit how the Rockets want to play.

15. Justin

    What’s up Steve! Well another chip was moved yesterday so whose next to be sent away?

    • Steve Kyler

      I would watch Boston… they have guys like Courtney Lee, Brandon Bass and Jason Terry they’d move. Utah has business they can do… Milwaukee is trying to move off their ending contract bigs (Sam Dalembert could be had) so could Drew Gooden if you’ll take his money. The Bucks are looking for another piece to their puzzle… Toronto has to do some with Andrea Bargnani (he has to get on the floor first)… Looks like Phoenix will do something with jared Dudley and maybe a few others… Atlanta has to make the decision Josh Smith.

      Those are the ones to watch.

16. Jon

    Do you see the Wizards making any roster changes now until the trade deadline? Who fo you think they should go after in this upcoming draft that many are calling weak?

    • Steve Kyler

      They are out there. They talked Rudy Gay and they have been sniffing around. They don’t have a lot to offer that they would move, but I think they’ll get involved before things are done on February 21st.

17. d

    I really dont think Gay was worth this trade. The raps will kick themselved in a few years for having no money, maybe making the 8th spot consistently at best and watching ed davis putting up a double double every night in memphis.

    • Steve Kyler

      The Raptors were losing Jose to free agency… his camp made that clear that he would be moving on. Rudy is a guy they have liked for a while and frankly he has a lot of upside he was never going to actualize in Memphis.

      Rudy was the third guy in Memphis. He’ll be the number 1 guy in Toronto. He’ll make things easier for DeMar, he’ll make Kyle Lowry a little happier and he’ll give them some star power. Toronto wasn’t going to get a player of Rudy’s caliber in free agency.

18. dub

    How did this make sense for the raps? They now got a glut of small forwards, only 2 pgs with lowry injury prone and a very skimpy front court. On top of that they got a gigantic contract for a carbon copy of what they already have in derozan! What was Colangelo thinking?

    • Steve Kyler

      I would say job preservation mode is more the thinking, but Rudy is a marketable player. We’ll see what Dwane Casey does with him. My biggest concern if I am Toronto is Rudy wasn’t happy last night. Thats where my concern is. I think once he gets on the floor with Kyle and Alan Anderson he’ll change his tune, but they need him to buy in and lead them.

19. HawksFan

    What will danny ferry do with hawks? Josh smith wants max deal and hearing they might trade josh or horford before deadline. What possible offers do you see happening involving the hawks????

    • Steve Kyler

      Hawks were rebuilding when they opened the season, nothing has really changed.

      Not sure why anyone is surprised that Josh Smith wants MAX, I knew that at summer league. Roy Hibbert got MAX, why wouldn’t Josh Smith?

      As for Horford, I would be beyond shocked if Atlanta traded him. I think the only way that happens is if Atlanta gets all the pieces that insures Josh Smith stays and they are an elite team in the East.

      The deadline is approaching and Ferry has some decisions to make, but nothing has really changed but the dates on the calendar… it was always going to be like this.

20. Silassie

    Hi Steve.

    English Clipper fan here.

    I think my team are title contenders, but us winning it all is still a real long shot. What do you think the Clips need to do-weather that is making a trade, drafting well, getting a new coach or whatever- in order to increase our odds significantly?

    • Steve Kyler

      Everyone I talk to in the West is afraid of seeing Chris Paul and a healthy Clipper team in a series. OKC and the Clippers are scary good… one of them comes out of the West, although I refuse to bet against San Antonio too.

      I think being healthy and rested matters most for the Clips chances at the Western Conference Finals/NBA Finals.

      The post-season is a different animal and the Clips are well prepared roster-wise for a solid run if they can stay healthy.

21. Mike

    With the new cap rules coming into play, who do you think the next team to drop a big name player to get under the cap?

    • Steve Kyler

      The new TAX RULES are what teams are afraid of… next year the tax becomes a graduated tax that increases in penalty the more you spend.

      For example the Knicks are going to pay $16.9 million for being over the Tax by $10 million if they stay where they are projected.

      The Lakers’ are looking at $83.14 million in salary next year – before re-signing Dwight Howard – that is $12.83 mil over the tax line now and will result in a $23.33 mill tax bill.

      Those are scary penalties even for the deepest pocketed teams, because are also going to have to start contributing $40-$60 million a year to revenue sharing.

      The concept was to get every team under the tax line and the new tax is basically going to force teams there, because its going to be CRAZY expensive in two years to be a repeat tax payer.

      Take the Lakers… they could be the first team hit with the repeater tax… that same $12.83 mil over the tax line now and will result in a $36.16 mill tax bill as a repeater add in $60 million in Rev Share and the Lakers would contribute almost $100 million that isn’t player salary or talent on the floor.

      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.