NBA Rumors Chat With Steve Kyler 1/10/13

Deven

Do the injuries to Dwight & Pau diminish the Lakers hopes of making the playoffs?

Steve Kyler

Welcome in everyone. Hope the week was good to you. Just getting back from Hornets practice so running a little late, but I’ll hang out a little longer to make it up to you. Lots to get to so lets get after it.

It doesn’t make it easier. The good news is neither are super serious and both should be back soon, but injuries haven’t been the Lakers problem, its the defense.

Not seeing much that makes me think that is going to change. Glad to see my guy Earl Clark gets some run, he could thrive under D’Antoni

Deven

Are the Celtics really going to make a blockbuster trade?

Steve Kyler

Doubtful, but if there is a serious deal to be made they’d look at it because they are not getting what they hoped for, but at the same time the guys they’d be open to moving are under achieving so whats their real value?

They are not trading Rondo, Pierce or Garnett so how big of a trade can they really make with their bench guys and non-stars?

Deven

The original report said Dwight was going to out at least a week and Pau was going to be out indefinitely. Are they both out indefinitely or just one of them is out one week?

Steve Kyler

They are taking a wait and see approach to both… Dwight’s is a partial tear and that can heal quickly… Gasol is concussion and that’s not something they can predict. They’ll both be reevaluated next week and see where things stand.

Enrique

I got into a debate with someone telling me that Chris Paul doesn’t stand a chance to be MVP because the Clippers are so deep. Clippers were nothing before he got there, and in my opinion he is as valuable to the Clippers LBJ is to the Heat, Melo is to the Knicks, Durant is to OKC. I think if it all ended today, top 3 for MVP in no particular order would be Melo, LBJ, and Paul. Your thoughts?

Steve Kyler

You are leaving out Kevin Durant.

We do a weekly Power Rankings/MVP/Rookie of the Year thing for USA Today every week… and Chris is on that list more times than not, but Durant and Melo and LeBron tend to beat him out and I think that’s how voting will go.

That said, if he wins it, there’d be no complaints from me.

Deven

How can I ask you a question on twitter when you’re not holding your chats and how long will it take for a response?

Steve Kyler

Ask it… If I see it and have time I’ll answer it. I don’t answer everything and I am super busy almost all the time. I try to be engaged and active on Twitter, but frankly its always about time. Some days I spend 20 minutes on Twitter some days I don’t touch it at all. Just depends on whats going on at the time.

LA in LA

I laughed at this quote in Kennedy’s latest article:
“One team that the Celtics have been in contact with is the Sacramento Kings. Boston has expressed significant interest in DeMarcus Cousins and would like to put together a package for him. Ainge seems willing to part with some combination of his recent acquisitions and draft picks. He doesn’t want to move Rondo, Pierce, Garnett or Avery Bradley, according to sources close to the situation.”

If Boston won’t give up there big 3 or Bradley, how do they plan on getting a star player like Demarcus Cousins?
No one else on Celtic’s is really desirable, at least enough to land an above average player. And their draft picks aren’t good unless they have some future one from a bad team I don’t know of.
I know Kennedy said “want”, but I think it’s obvious Ainge will have to trade one of those 4 to get Cousins, even assuming they get a generous 3rd team partner.

I think if Celtics manage to land Cousins with out giving up Rondo, KG, Pierce, or Bradley, that will be as bad if not worse than Dwight Howard trade.

Steve Kyler

Three roadblocks on DeMarcus… he’s one a rookie deal so he really can’t return much value with packing in others. He’s viewed as a bad apple and the Kings will never get back what they have in the player.

Would Boston love to have DeMarcus… sure. I’d love to spend some quality time with Kate Upton, neither are gonna happen.

Rory

Steve, big fan of ur chats!!! Been hearing a lot of trade buzz around Demarcus cousins!! The kids got ridiculous talent!! Would you see this trade working and why/why not?? Demarcus & Marcus Thornton to Minny for Kevin love (add fillers to make cap work if nec.), adelman can get a hold of DC and the sg he’s always needed and sactown get a franchise player they can build around with strong charecter and leadership, in midst of some of the other crazy trade ideas I’ve been hearing I think talent wise this Could work out best for both?? Thoughts??

Steve Kyler

No one is changing DeMarcus Cousins. He simply has to grow up and thats not happening quickly.

As for the trade. Kevin Love is out for 10 weeks, hard to trade guys that are that injured and get any value back.

Angaso

Is it just me or the HEAT are overrated?!

I know they are the defending champs and I know that they can repeat, but they are still lacking real big men that can compete well with the legit bigs of some opposing playoff teams.

I believe their quest to the title last year was not that tough. They had on their way the injury-ridden then-weaker Knicks, lacking-in-experience but talented Pacers, lacking-in-depth Celtics, and first-timers (KD, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka and Scott Brooks) Thunder.

Plus, in the Finals, Battier and Miller were shooting lights out, a thing that they don’t normally do during the first rounds. Another is Harden played unforcefully awful. And they just got lucky that Thunder’s best two defenders were not fully utilized (esp. Perkins) because of Heat’s perimeter game.

Lastly, last year’s a lock-out. My point is MAYBE, the odds just went in Miami’s favor.

While this year, I can see that Miami’s road is sure gonna be tougher considering the emergence of more teams as title contenders. And I believe that if they face a team with legit big men, they might fall.

Your thought on my thoughts, please?! Thanks!

Steve Kyler

It is extremely hard to get everyone on the same page to repeat, that’s why its rare. All the little chips on shoulders, motivations and things that need to line up to be a champion are hard to duplicate after you win.

What you see from Miami is the regular season daze that winners go though. They just don’t play hard in games that don’t matter. That will change in the post-season and more importantly after the All-Star break.

There is way too much talent there to say it was luck or the lockout that got them there.

Ren

What are the chances that HEAT will repeat? Thanks!

Steve Kyler

They are still the best team in the East, even with their lackadaisical approach. Until someone beats them in a series, how can you not expect them to be a contender.

Spur

Can the Spurs win it all with their current roster? Thanks!

Steve Kyler

Hard to say. They are very perimeter oriented and that makes them streaky. They are still very good and if they can manage the minutes and health of their guys I think they are as formidable as anyone in the West.

Thunder

Can the Thunder now beat the Heat if in case they meet again in the Finals?! How would the series be like then? Thanks!

Steve Kyler

They have the firepower to beat Miami, but it still come down to maturity and experience. Miami has more of both, but if its Thunder/Miami, flip a coin. OKC is better this year all around and far hungrier.

Tasia

Who would you trade love for? Please don’t say no way minny is going to trade him who saw the Deron Williams trade when he was having an amazing season and you can argue best pg in the league at the time? I however think they wait around the draft. If they don’t make the playoffs love is going to throw the team under the bus again. Top 3 pick for a Sg+ above average pf and wing+ rid of one of their pgs and Roy contract. Ben mcclemore will look good next to Rubio.

Steve Kyler

I am not making the decision… so who I’d trade him for is immaterial. Its who would David Kahn trade him for, and that’s going to be a very short list of players mainly because Love is under their control for two more seasons.

Adelman likes Love and Kahn likes Love, so until that changes anything about trading Kevin Love this year is pure speculation and I really try not to do that in chats.

nova416

why would sac town take the celtics offer of sullinger, green, terry and bradley (all average players) for cousin’s? IMO the raps have a better package in bargs, calderon (they need a pure PG) davis, ross. these are all more attractive assets. Toronto can even take back a bad contract as no one is untradeable. Even on cousins rookie scale contract they can still do a calderon, ross, or jval trade. bargs can then be flipped for whatever they need, even a pick, they can push that to the kings for boogie. what package outside of demar can the raps put together for boogie?

2nd question, what coaches have the best personnel for their coaching style?

thanks,

Steve Kyler

Cross anything you think you know about Sacramento off the list. With the team being sold, new ownership will be making those decisions.

as for Personnel… I think San Antonio is easy. Oklahoma City. New Orleans. Miami. Orlando. Indiana. Chicago. Atlanta.

That is with about 15 seconds of thought.

matt from Oz

Hey Steve,
My second favorite time of year coming up, the trade deadline (second to playoffs of course).
One scenario i wanted to get your thoughts on was a possible Rudy Gay to Atlanta scenario.
Considering Memphis are wanting to obtain cap space but stay as competitive this year, would a Rudy Gay for Kyle Korver and Devin Harris?
Granted, they aren’t the equivalent of Rudy Gay, but both are expiring contracts, Korver is having a solid year, and would benefit greatly from Z-Bo and Marc Gasol’s passing abilities.
From Atlanta’s point of view, yes they lose some cap space for this offseason, but unless they’re guaranteed of getting a D12 of CP3, surely this is close to the next best thing. A lineup of J-Smoove, Al Horford and Rudy Gay with Teague running the point. Pretty solid.
just a thought.
cheers Steve.

Steve Kyler

Not sure why everything believes Memphis is tossing in the towel… the only way Rudy Gay is moved is if it makes the team better now. Getting Rudy for luggage isn’t happening.

Rudy’s contract is tough to justify. I think the market – as in what you’ll get back – if fairly small.

Steve

How come memphis doesn’t look to move randolph instead of gay?

Steve Kyler

He’s the better player.

But again. Memphis is exploring their options like all teams do. The problem is you have a lot of people who want to see that situation come apart and that is whats going on with the “rumors” out of Memphis.

Joe Shafer

Would the rockets be interested in Rudy Gay? Would a package of Parsons and young players be enough? Parsons has been playing well, but is inconsistent, with Rudy Gay in a line up of Lin, Harden, Patterson and Asik the rockets could make noise…..

Steve Kyler

Had a discussion about that last night, and the answer is no… at least not for a premium. If they could add him and not give up much, they’d gladly take a free All-Star, but giving real value back to Memphis isn’t likely. They want another bruising rebounder that draws a double team in the post.

Put Zach on the table and Houston might have more interest.

LA in LA

Paul George has been living up to his potential now (although he’s got to improve his FG%) that he can finally play SF AND be the man (along with DWest) so I have to ask you:
Does this mean Granger will be moved for a SG? Or would they just keep Granger and make him kind of a spot up shooter while letting Paul George continue to do his thing?

My second question would be do you think/know if Granger would accept a reduced role on that team? I don’t think he would, so that and positional redundancy are why I think he could be traded before his contract ends.

Steve Kyler

Danny’s knee is a huge problem. Its going to prevent Indiana from getting real value for him. Could they give him away? sure. But the word from Indy is Danny makes them better and gives them a shoot at going deep in the playoffs.

I just don’t see them trading Danny mid-season… around the draft if this year goes like last year, maybe. But again its all about value back to Indiana more than anything else.

LA in LA

With Dwight Howard still a shell of his former self due to his back surgery, do you think that decreases Pau’s chances of being traded? IF Lakers decide not to extend Howard or if Howard wants to leave, they’d need a Center (Pau Gasol).

2)If Lakers did decide to move Howard, what kind of package could he bring? I’d think even like he is now Howard could net us another All-star caliber guy (i.e. Rudy Gay, Chris Bosh. Not necessarily those guys, just players of their ability)

Steve Kyler

The situations are unrelated. The Lakers have no concerns about losing Dwight Howard. Their desire to move Pau is not about basketball its about finances. So again unrelated.

The Lakers won;t be trading Dwight unless he asks to be traded and he’s not going to do that. He got everything he wanted.

Jazzaholic

Lots of teams making space for possible trades.

Do you see the Jazz making a trade for any of their 7 expiring contracts or just letting them expire to shop the FA market next summer.

Will the Jazz be able to unload Toxic Raja?

Steve Kyler

No on Raja… he won;t agree to a buyout until he has another deal lined up. So Utah will have to either pay him out or cut him.

I think the Jazz have to do something at the trade deadline, but I am not sure its going to be what everyone is expecting. Have flexibility in the new NBA is important.

D

2 Questions.

1.What do the Orlando Magic have to do to win a game?Playing pretty well,with multiple records set by players,but losses by 3,4,3,8,35,2 in OT,2,8,6 in OT and playing Denver tonight(Yesterday when this chat happens)

2.Out of these players who is still on the Magic the day after the deadline? JJ Redick,Glen Davis,Hedo Turkoglu,Al Harrington(Even though he hasn’t played)

Steve Kyler

The magic are not talented enough to beat teams with more talent than they have… they win when the other team makes mistakes. So how do they win. When they are more aggressive and the other team makes bad decisions.

Hard to say… in a perfect world all of them are gone at the deadline, but there isn’t a market for most of them.

Yoichi

Ok I know Lakers are playing horrible right now and main issue is defense and rotation rather than of fence since they seem to be able to score with out any issues. So my question is this, if they eventually get it together by March, or right before playoffs and if they sneak in to 7/8 seed and if they stay healthy how far can they go ? Oh and LAL vs LAC in 7 games do either team have any kind of home court advantage since they play in the same building ?

Steve Kyler

Fan energy creates homecourt advantage… not the actual building.

I think everyone is overlooking that the Lakers are 5 games out of the 8th seed with more than 40 games left to play. A six or seven game winning streak alters this discussion significantly. Too early to write this team out of the post-season. If they have made progress in the standing in say 15 games, then we can say they are toast.

Peter

Hey Steve!! I know Carlos Delfino will not win the 6th man of the yr award but he has been instrumental in the rockets’ success thus far. Consistently knocking down 3′s for the Rox and has been a solid bench player. What a great pick up by Morey

Steve Kyler

Agreed. He’s been very good for them.

willie

hi give these trade ideas to rob please tyreke evans jason thompson for affalo big baby derrick williams for jj redick hedo mcroberts for rudy gay i dont like being medicore we need to get better now goooooooooooooo magic

Steve Kyler

I’ll get right on that.

RkOZ

Gday Steve, big fan of ur chats!!! Been hearing a lot of trade buzz around Demarcus cousins!! The kids got ridiculous talent!! Would you see this trade working and why/why not?? Demarcus & Marcus Thornton to Minny for Kevin love (add fillers to make cap work if nec.), adelman is the perfect coach to harness DC’s talent whilst thornton vills the major hole @ SG and can finally start! Sactown/Seattle (great to the sonics back as well) get THE franchise player they can build around with strong charecter and leadership, in midst of some of the other crazy trade ideas I’ve been hearing I think talent wise this Could work out best for both?? especially with reports K-Love wont resign and Pekovic’s RFA, Thoughts?

P.S awesome to see another Aussie in NBA RKsigned today in Aron Baynes!!

Steve Kyler

I kind covered this, but wanted to give you some Aussie love…

willie

hi steve any chance justin harper comes back to the magic and any updates on where he is any how he is playing i still think he can be a really good player

Steve Kyler

No.

He’s in the D-League with the Idaho Stampede – he’s played in 18 games is averaging about 11 points per and shooting a dreadful 24% from three. He’s not starting in the D-League, so its not looking good for Harp.

LA in LA

For the life of me I can’t figure out why the LAKERS ALWAYS let/make KOBE take a desperate 3 WHENEVER IT’S A CLUTCH GAME. Even though it’s a shot he CAN make, it’s not efficient at all, the fadeaway tightly contested 3. In that loss to Spurs Lakers could have got a better look or give it to Nash, the much better 3pt shooter. The Lakers Kobe centric last minute plays have been annoying forever and are even more so now that they have Nash…

Steve Kyler

Lakers “let Kobe”… seriously. Thats not hoe the game is played. Kobe has the unlimited green light. He can take any shot he wants and more times than not he’s their best guy. You have won championships with that situation. Sometimes they go in and he’s the hero, sometimes they don’t.

LA in LA

BTW, thoughts on Earl Clark’s performance?
Fluke against a sleep walking Spurs or do the Lakers have another Jordan Hill (quality Forward off the bench who only gets discovered when forced into PT).

Steve Kyler

Something they were not expecting. Earl is not nearly as good as he looked, but thrilled to see him get a chance.

Brea Bob

Hi Steve – Do the Lakers have a 1st round draft pick this year? If so, is it theirs or is it from another team?

Steve Kyler

No, they have basically traded it away for Steve Nash.

maestro

When will the Lakers throw in the towel and begin building towards the future? I thinking why not cash out Howard sending him along with Duhon to Atlanta for Al Hortford and Devin Harris. The Lakers would also send Steve Blake to Cleveland who would also receive a #1 pick from Atlanta. Atlanta gets to pair Dwight with Josh Smith. The Lakers can slid Hortford into the four slot move Pau to the 5 and dump a lot of salary (Harris deal is up at the end of the year they receive 20 millions in salary and send out 28 million in salary. Cleveland picks up a back up point and another #1.

Steve Kyler

When will the Lakers throw in the towel and begin building towards the future? — never. They’ll reload like they always do.

Aristotle

Hey Steve,

Regarding the possible sale of the Kings to Seattle…does this mean all trades are now off regarding Sacramento players? And if the sale does take place, is Cousins the guy you want to be the face of this Seattle franchise?

Steve Kyler

Hard to say what new owners would want. Until they have an executive in place that can define a culture for the team, I wouldn’t expect anything to change.

Aristotle

Hey Steve,

Another Q based on the sale… I’m guessing that when the Sonics moved to OKC and were renamed the Thunder that the Sonics banners and retired jerseys would of gone with them. Do they now get returned? Does Seattle have to change the name or the uniform colours of green and yellow they had?

Steve Kyler

Seattle kept the name, the logos and the color scheme. Not the franchise history, but I would think that gets complicated if the Sonics come back.

Jim in CyberSpace

How ronic it will be if Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer buys the King’s and moves them to Seattle…

Will they be vilified like Clay Bennett and Aubrey McClendon…branded as team stealer’s? The shoe is on the other foot now.

Pro teams have changed Cities forever…Brooklyn Dodgers.

Sell a team to a group of owners, with deep pockets and a hometown eager to support a team. Makes perfect sense.

Stern forced Seattle to build a new arena…one way or another.

Steve Kyler

Not exactly. The new arena is directly because Chris Hansen put in a ton of his own money to build it.

I am sure Sacramento won;t like those guys, but really its the Maloofs that take the hit, because they are selling it to be moved, unlike Bennett who gets the blame for stealing the team because he initially pledged to keep it there. Which to be fair to Clay had they built a new arena in 2008, the Sonics would have never left.

It was a best case worst case… best case make mountains of money in a new building…worse case move it to OKC. It was a win/win for Clay either way.

keo

What’s your thoughts on avery bradely …I’m from Boston and his defence is intense..do you think other gaurds look foward to go up against him? I think he has potential to be defensive first team in the future.

With the celtics winning 4 straight do you think they should still pull the trigger or keep the core because they look really good since bradely came back? is his defence the reason they are winning?

Steve Kyler

Big fan of AB… he’s got to get and stay healthy to really matter.

As for trade… change does not always make you better… ask the Lakers.

Aristotle

Steve….
Phil Jackson states he has no intention of coaching again. Seattlee is now coming into the picture. Seattle is much closer to both his ranch in Montana and also Los Angeles then many of the other ball clubs with an interest in him.
Could you see him possibly changing his mind to coach or at least possibly be made a GM? Now how nice would it be to bring back Durant and have Jackson coach him…

Steve Kyler

No. I think the Lakers was the perfect situation for him. The rest are long term commitments with rosters that are far from contending. I can’t see Phil looking forward to adding more losses to his resume.

I think if the right “insert Zen master, get Championship” arises he’d look at it, but Phil is done chasing players around the country.

Now could Phil come in as team president… Maybe.

Scott

Should the Clippers look into trading for Rudy Gay? Maybe a package built around Butler and Bledsoe. Clips don’t need their depth come playoff time and can’t afford to pay Bledsoe. This also gives the Grizz a starting SF and a very nice young piece.

Steve Kyler

I don;t think that makes sense in the long term… you handcuff yourself significantly. The Clippers will never be huge luxury tax payers

Chris G

I know it won’t happen, since Dallas loves Dirk, but wouldn’t a Dirk for Dwight Howard actually make some sense for both teams: Dirk fits D’Antoni’s European style, and Howard gives Cuban a major rebuilding piece.

Steve Kyler

Mark said he wouldn’t consider it. So moot to speculate on it, it won’t happen.

Saulo

Hey Steve, who would say no. Love and Pekovic, for Asik and James Harden?

Steve Kyler

Houston.

WMW

Do you think the Rockets could get Josh Smith this offseason? We have the cap space and it seems like the perfect fit for the team and could possibly put us with the elite in the west next year. Just not sure of his interest in leaving Atlanta and coming to Houston.

Steve Kyler

No. Josh won’t leave money on the table.

lawrence

Hey steve. 2 questions

With the kings getting ready to be sold to Seattle, will the new owners of the kings have some backdoor say so in what trades go down or will the be completely left in the dark? Because I would think they would want to keep cousins there since they have no real star to bring to the city.

Also, who do you think my rockets will pursue at the PF? I’m really hoping for a future chance at K-love but not sure if we have the assets to ever get him.

Thanks in advance!!!!!

Steve Kyler

Daryl told us at the Showcase he wasn’t planning for anything major… used the word stablity. So I doubt he makes the move unless he gets his big fish.

As for Kings, I have no sense of whats going to happen, mainly because none of the Kings management does.

Emanuel

Are you giving up on the Laker’s playoff chances?

Steve Kyler

Not yet… check back in 15 games.

Emanuel

Should the Lakers trade Dwight Howard by the trade deadline so they don’t risk losing him for nothing in free agency?

Steve Kyler

No.

Alex M.

Hey Steve! I want to start off by saying I saw you at the Hornets @ Magic game a couple weeks back and you look alot slimmer in person. Also, you were with a very pretty lady. Good Job! Any way my question is do you see the Magic making any significant moves this year? Also if they do decide to trade JJ, what do you see them getting in return? Thanks!

Steve Kyler

Thanks… I am down about 35 pounds this year. Still working at it.

As for the “petty lady” — that would be my daughter, so lets make sure we get that straight.

The magic are engaged. They are in the marketplace talking and looking. They have guys they’d move and they have assets like the huge Traded Player Exception that gives them possibilities. Nothing seems close. They are not aggressively after anyone on either side. Landing or trading.

Javin

Do you see Jose with the raptors after the deadline

Steve Kyler

Maybe. He’s playing awfully good. If they move him they might get real value, but then their season hits the crapper.

Sam

Any trade news from Orlando? Tryeke Evans maybe?

Steve Kyler

No news on Orlando.

Dee

Can the raptors get Rudy gay who would they want Ed Davis and Jose ?

Steve Kyler

I doubt it. But Toronto does have real interest.

Naptown Sethford

What would i take to get JJ Redick in a Pacers uniform?

Steve Kyler

Take Hedo Turkoglu or Glen Davis and return very little salary and toss in a draft pick or two.

Matt

Hi Steve,

Die hard Lakers fan here, I am disappointed to see Kobe becoming a ball stopper, like Carmelo. Seems like, no one can get into a rythm when the ball stops with Kobe, and not to mention his dissappearing defense. Is he the one to take majority of the blame for our dismal record?

Steve Kyler

Injuries and constant upheaval are to blame… Kobe part of the problem, but they have no rhythm at all.

ced

I Steve what about lance stephenson for most improved player? He improved so much from last year, to see him contribute and being good with the starting 5 is so unbelievable that I can’t think of anyone else for this award.
what do you is his ceiling ? or what player can you compare him too? thanks

Steve Kyler

I agree lance is playing really well, but not like some of the others.

Ceiling… solid backup guard in the NBA… say Kirk Hinirch type career.

sergio

Would the following players dominate all of today’s “bigs”, including Howard? :
Sabonis, Divac, Longley, H Grant, Rodman, Coleman, Smits, L Johnson, Mourning, Mutombo? What’s crazy to me is that they were all roughly from the same era, they had the talent to be beasts but weren’t primary options on their teams.

Steve Kyler

Maybe. The game has changed a lot, not sure those guys could all keep the pace of the current NBA game.

burritzzzz

Why are teams still passing on delonte ,birdman n kenyon? The heat will surely win the finals if they sign all 3. With me?

Steve Kyler

because they are great players, but not nearly the quality “team mates” teams covet. Most teams don’t want a knucklehead or distraction in their locker room.

Clay Bertrand

Hey Steve, Great Work!!! Separated at Birth: Omer Asik and Judge Reinhold (AKA “Rosewood” from Beverly Hills Cop) Agree??

Steve Kyler

Omer is SIGNIFICANTLY bigger. But funny comparison.

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.