NBA Rumors Chat With Steve Kyler 2/16/12

HOOPSWORLD Publisher Steve Kyler will hold his weekly chat at 10:30am EST on Thursdays. Drop in your questions regarding NBA trades, the NBA Draft, roster moves or questions about your team.

  1. Wilson

    With Jazz cooling off in a big way over the last several weeks, might we see them finally entertain moving Big Al or Millsap?

    Favors and Kanter are clearly the future and could benefit from more burn if the Jazz are contending for the playoffs, right?

    • Steve Kyler

      Welcome in everyone… hope the week has been goo to you… hard to believe we have roughly 36 more games to the season, but thats where we are. Lots in the que so lets get after it.

      I think at some point Utah has to shop Paul Millsap… just not sold thats going to happen soon.

      Big Al’s contract has $14 million this year and $15 million next year… thats a tough number to swallow. If Utah took back some less desirable money, Al’s value goes up, but to try and dump off that kind of change even for a guy averaging 18.4 points and 9.1 rebounds a game is hard.

      Al has a history of being a less than motivated player, not sure a lot of team line up unless they can cash out a bad deal in the move…. if I can give Utah a promising young player and a hefty contract for Al… I’d consider it.

      I think he’s worth more to Utah in town and see what he fetches next year when the specter of the $15 million owed isn’t nearly so bright.

  2. Wilson

    In your opinion, which NBA players have the most unique game, in that they are tough to compare to peers or previous players. Will we ever see another Khalid El-Amin? Should we want to?

    • Steve Kyler

      Without giving this more than 30 seconds of thought…

      Chris Paul… Kobe Bryant… Dwight Howard… Kevin Durant… Dwight Howard… Kevin Martin and Shawn Marion’s three-point stroke… Glen Davis’ “girthy” frame… John Wall’s speed.

  3. Jay

    Hey Steve, just a quick question. In all of the years in the business, which sport would you consider difficult to win a championship? Could you give a brief explanation to why you chose that sport. Thanks

    • Steve Kyler

      For my money…

      NFL Football… you have to get so many guys on the same page. There is amazing parity… there is an ever changing strength of schedule and the volume of injuries due to the violent nature of the game.

      In baseball, money matters most … In the NBA if you get three really good players you are in the running… I am not much of a hockey guy or soccer guy.

  4. i am houston

    What it do Steve?Do you see the Rockets making any moves at or before the trade deadline?Do the Rockets have a REAL CHANCE at a player like D-Howard or is the wholesale of the team for Gasol our only option?I don’t see this wholesale making us any better.Should we be GM shopping?

    • Steve Kyler

      The Rockets are trying to make trades… they value their guys too high so its hard to get a real bead on whats real with them.

      No shot at Howard long-term… could they get him in a rental, sure… they have a lot of assets.

      Gasol in Houston if enough guys stay is real… I know the Rockets would love to have him… not sure the Lakers want anything Houston is willing to part with.

  5. Frank

    Hi Steve,
    1)What’s your best guess on where J.R. Smith lands? 2)If he becomes a CLIP, does that make Mo WMS expendable? 3) If you were GS GM would you move either Monta or Curry in March? What BIG wd you target? Thanks.

    • Steve Kyler

      I don’t have an educated guess on J.R. Smith… what I have been told is he wants a chance to really play meaningful minutes… a chance to be paid well for his services and to have an opportunity to be re-signed next year.

      Not sure all of those things get addressed with one team… each offers part of it.

      On Mo Williams… from what we have been told at every level… Mo is not going anywhere… he’d like a new contract (who wouldn’t) – but he told me last week that he loves the situation with the Clips and wants to stay there long term.

      On GS… I’d consider anything if I am Golden State… 11-15 in the West won’t ever work. If they could pry loose a real star… they tried to do an Monta for Iguodala deal and got shot down by Philly – so they are not sitting on their hands.

  6. Frank

    How do you see the Ray Felton saga evolving? We’re deep enough into the season that it’s more than conditioning,no?

    • Steve Kyler

      Hard to call it… I know Ray wants to stay in Portland, but do they want him remains to be seen.

      I was asked this by a high ranking NBA person… why is scoring down in the NBA?… my answer is guys are not in shape… He scoffed at first and I explained… if I came into the season at 75% and the grind of this schedule with very little rest and recovery time… I am likely playing at 60% now… Look around the league… Dead legs everywhere you look… The real young guys still have bounce, but the grizzled veterans look like they are carrying weights most nights… Very little slashing and driving… lots of jump shots.

      Foul shooting is down something like 3 shots per game on average… thats a product of passive play.

      You need rest and recovery time and almost no one has gotten that… everyone is worn down… not building up… I think when you says whats wrong with Felton, you have to look at Paul Piece, Jameer Nelson… there is a list of guys that are under performing and I think its because of bad conditioning and a grueling schedule… if you get behind in the conditioning game, its hard to get caught up without rest.

  7. Chris G

    Can we say who the best team in the NBA is yet? OKC, Bulls, Heat have three best records, have all swept their back-back-back, Bulls have best road record, Heat and Bulls both win despite injuries, Bulls first team to ever win 4 straight road games by 20+ points, Heat first team ever to win three back2back2back road games by double digits. How do you rank them?

    • Steve Kyler

      How do I rank them….

      OKC… HEAT… Bulls… Clippers…. OKC has the whole package. Miami has the best horses… Bulls have injuries concerns… and the Clippers will be outstanding in the playoffs if they can stay healthy.

      That is how I see it… everyone else needs to play into to this pack.

  8. Alex

    If Melo and Stat can find a way to play with Lin, how far can this team go? Pretty scary matchup for the Heat.

    • Steve Kyler

      Do not kid yourself… with the HEAT playing like they have this season… no one is scary to them in a series where they have days off and time to prepare.

      As I have said… the Lin story is great, but the Knicks have beaten six teams at or under .500… before we call them contenders for the East, lets see them beat someone in the hunt in the East.

  9. Alex

    Any way you see the Magic make a move towards signing JR Smith? He has that explosive talent that we need but is he worth the risk? If they did gamble on it, where would he fit in? 2 spot and Richardson at 3?

    • Steve Kyler

      Not sure he wants to be involved in the Dwight Howard circus… thats not good for him or for business.

      Also keep in mind, agents don’t like the uncertainty of Stan Van Gundy… he is a very controlling coach especially when it comes to guards… The Magic could surely use what JR does, just not sure his camp sees Orlando as a good fit for the future of JR’s career.

      I think the only way Orlando gets him is to promise him the starters spot and 30 minutes a game… do you really see that happening?… I don’t.

  10. Tony

    Why hasn’t Joel Pryzbilla made a decision yet? Where do you think he goes?

    • Steve Kyler

      Not entirely up to Joel…

      A lot of guys may wait until after All-Star to make sure the fit is real… you also have teams considering trades that might require extra roster spots… so just because teams call does not mean they will sign someone today.

  11. Deven

    Hello Steve. My question is, if Steve Nash is that loyal to the Suns, then why does he live in New York in the off season and not in Phoenix? That probably indicates that he wants to be in NY with the Knicks right? Do you see him leaving the Suns through a trade or via free agency this summer?

    • Steve Kyler

      Your logic is flawless….

      Where I chose to spend my spare time is not related to where I want to work… Don;t assume that because Steve has a home somewhere that he believes that franchise is right for his career.

      If I had my druthers, I’d own a house in Vegas and in Sausalito — that does not mean I want to work for companies based there.

      Steve loves the situation in Phoenix… they are very good to him and he has had personal and professional success…. there is also talk they may give him two more years at $10 million per… New York can’t come close to offering that.

      You are reading too much into Steve owning a house in New York… he has a house in Phoenix too.

  12. Will

    Its seems Dwight and the Magic will ride out the whole season,you agree?

    • Steve Kyler

      As was said to me last night… the Magic will start looking at their options March 1st… thats the first day virtually every player can be traded.

      I do think the Magic will press more after March 1 and see whats real and what is not.

      I was told no decisions have been made on either side.

      Its easy to ask for a trade, you lose nothing if traded… its something else to walk away.

      There is zero incentive for Dwight to do a sign and trade… so the Magic have to ask themselves if they are willing to risk getting nothing for the league’s best center.

  13. Will

    Are the Magic interested in JR Smith?

    • Steve Kyler

      Yes… not sure he is interested in them.

      Don’t buy into whats written on his Twitter status… he is having fun being courted.

  14. matt from Oz

    hey Steve,.
    got a trade scenario for your thoughts.
    i know the lakers want Lowry and Scola in return for Pau Gasol, and the Rockets would prefer to give up Scola and Martin.

    what about a trade of Pau Gasol and Steve Blake from the Lakers for Scola, Kevin Martin and Dragic?

    Rockets get their key centre/power forward with a backup PG, and the lakers get a cheaper version of Gasol and their PG they desperately need.

    they could also then look to on-trade Martin for a solid SF option, like a Beasley or Gerald Wallace maybe? i’m pretty sure the money works out there.

    thoughts? thanks Steve

    • Steve Kyler

      I do not see the Rockets parting with Kevin Martin for this package… they might… but I doubt it.

      Keep in Kevin wants a new deal, and he’s not going to be a happy camper if traded to LA, where he won’t get a deal… He can’t block a trade, but do the Lakers knowingly trade for a disgruntled player?

      If you really want to speculate… put Kevin Martin in Minnesota… Pau Gasol in Houston and pick some assets from both for the Lakers.

      That could happen.

  15. Mark Bacon

    Rondo for Nash. Obviously there may be spare change thrown in to balance it out. But who says no? to me boston gets a bit more efficent on offence and becomes a dangerous 3 pt shooting team. plus they get another contract of their books with nash expiring.
    phx get a pg with more years to come and one that is still pass first – to help attract fa. thoughts?

    • Steve Kyler

      Not sure Boston would do it… I think Phoenix would.

  16. Alex

    Hi Steve! How r u? Love your chats!! Do you see Orlando trading away guys like JJ or Ryan Anderson for someone like Monta Ellis? And in your opinion Nelson/Ellis/Turkoglu could be a good punch?

    • Steve Kyler

      Very doubtful on Ryan Anderson… JJ is a maybe…

  17. Lewis1201

    Why does Otis smith still have a job? Why aren’t the magic pursuing jr. Smith?

    • Steve Kyler

      Why does Otis smith still have a job?
      - Who replaces him?… if you are legitimately selling yourself as a championship team… how many championship teams dump their GM during the season?.. You fire Otis willy nilly and you validate everything people in Dwight’s life are saying.

      I think if the Magic really want to prove to Dwight they are serious, Otis is gone at the end of the season and so is Stan Van Gundy… You go hard after Phil Jackson and try to convince him to come lead Dwight… but you can not do those things mid-season.

      Why aren’t the magic pursuing jr. Smith?
      - They have inquired, but JR is under siege from his friends trying to get him to come to their teams… The Magic do not do business in the press. But as I covered early… Orlando is a circus with the Dwight situation and until thats resolved, can you tell me what Orlando looks like on March 15th?… No one can… thats going to matter to JR Smith.

  18. Derek

    Hey Steve, since it’s a shorter season and given the Howard situation wouldn’t the smart thing be to get rid of him tank the season a start rebuilding? And also do you think Howard likes playing for SVG?

    • Steve Kyler

      Dwight knows what Stan has done for his career… Dwight is an elite NBA player… he was not that before Stan arrived.

      Tanking the season insures you lose Dwight to free agency…. Would a change in head coach matter… it might, depending on who replaces him… if its a serious coach, he might be swayed to consider Orlando more seriously.

      I do not think Dwight stays or goes because of Stan…

  19. JP

    1-Is it true that Minnesota is still trying to acquire Pau Gasol?
    2-If true, why aren´t they going for a young center with multiple All-Star potential instead or trading to get Anthony Davis in this year draft. (Trade: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7u9fl9y for the Bobcats first round pick)?
    3-If they do make a big trade, shouldn´t they make a big push for a truly talented SG?

    • Steve Kyler

      Minnesota is looking at a lot of options… Pau is one, Kevin Martin is one… there are a lot of things linked to Minnesota… nothing is close or serious yet.

      Minnesota is not worrying about the draft… Pek is playing well. Kevin Love is handling the rebounding… The Wolves need an impact two guard most. They have a ton of guys that look the same… they need some scoring.

      Rick Adelman talked about this the other day… other than their point guards they have no perimeter ball handlers or offense… its pick and roll and thats it.

      They want to make a trade, but there are so few players that work that are available.

  20. Hurricane Game

    I read something regarding players that arent coming off of rookie deals will make less money by extending during the season, which is one of the reasons williams wont extend until the offseason, so my question is, is it possibly that howard plays out the season, then does a sign and trade to chi for noah and brewer or to the nets for picks so that he not only gets his extra year, but his max money?

    my thinking is that it would be better, from the bulls perspective to get howard after the season so they wouldnt have to give up as much to attain him and get the extention asap instead of waiting and hoping he still wants to stay after a deal

    and my 2nd question is, is it possible he can get traded to LA or Chi and so the teams dont take a huge risk, force him to waive his player option for a season?

    thx

    • Steve Kyler

      There is zero incentive for veteran players under contract to do extensions going forward…. the most you can have on your deal is four years… so in Deron Williams case, this year and his option year count towards that number… meaning the most he could add is two years. if he opts out, he can sign a new five year deal…. two more guaranteed years waiting until July.

      Is it possible for Dwight to do a sign and trade in July… sure… its not probable.

      He does not want to be in Chicago – it has nothing to do with Derrick Rose or Addias – he wants his own team, and Chicago is DRose’s team and always will be.

      I know thats hard fro people to grasp, but do not be swayed by this constant “I want to win a championship” line Dwight keeps using… its not about that which is why Chicago is not on the list.

      For Dwight it is Brooklyn and everyone else in no particular order.

  21. MikeM

    Steve, do you think the Spurs have a serious shot this year?

    • Steve Kyler

      If healthy… thats been the problem every year, the grind of the season catches up in April.

      if healthy, they are very good… they are winning now without Manu… they will get better.

  22. Shawn

    Hi Steve. Pekovic is playing great for the Wolves. Any idea how he is being viewed around the league? C of the future, short-term flash-in-the-pan, or somewhere in between?

    • Steve Kyler

      He is viewed as playing well… he’s not coveted or a star… but as one Wolves sources said… he has a pulse now and thats more than he had last year.

      Its the Rubio effect… he makes guys around him better.

  23. Vlad

    Wolves big guys abused Orlando’s big guys, but still lost a game without much chances. Rubio was still better then Nelson. How did it happen? Do you think SG and SF positions in MN have zero talent? Because I think Wolve’s fromt curt now is one of the best if not the best in NBA.

    • Steve Kyler

      The Wolves have a very rudimentary offense… pick and roll…pick and roll… single isolation… pick and roll.

      They need another dynamic scorer… they do not have that… thats why they lose games.

  24. Shawn

    Hi. What in the world is wrong with Wes Johnson. He went from a lackluster rookie year to a dismal sophomore year. Confidence? His year in Syracuse was an outlier? Or ?

    • Steve Kyler

      Some players can not play in the NBA… some of it is system… but remember Wes burst onto the draft scene after being largely unremarkable.

      This is why guys jump to the NBA when they are hot, and why teams are hit and miss with guys with small resumes or bodies of work.

      Not sure Wes will ever live up to his draft status… but there are a lot of those guys on the Wolves roster… Michael Beasley… Anthony Randolph…

  25. willie

    otis needs to sign jr smith have redick back him up package jrich with orton at the deadline smith gives orlando something they dont have a guy who can slash and create of the dribble waive ish cause that move hasnt worked be magic

    • Steve Kyler

      Good plan… now go make it happen.

      See this is where it falls apart… you can’t make teams take the players you do not want any more and you can not force guys to sign in your city.

      Now give me $20,000 dollars… see that just doesn’t work does it… its a good plan, but its not something Otis influences… J.R. Smith will choose where he signs… and teams have to find value in Richardson and Orton and its clear you do not value either so why would another team.

  26. TL

    Which player will be in magic uniform? Ellis, JRsmith, Nash. Can magic trade Anderson, JJ, Jrich, or Nelson for Nash or Ellis?

  27. Jay

    Do you think Chris Kaman will be bought out or traded by deadline? If so who do you think he will land with?

    • Steve Kyler

      Trade yes… bought out… No.

      There is interest in Chris, so its just what will New Orleans ultimately settle for…. when they shopped him a few weeks ago they wanted an unprotected first round pick a young player and an ending salary to make it work under the cap…. I say pick two and thats the deal that gets done.

  28. Brooks

    Take one to start a franchise with, on draft day. #1 pick is:

    18 year old Lebron
    17 year old Kobe
    18 year old KG
    Allen Iverson out of G’Town
    Timmy D out of Wake

    • Steve Kyler

      In isolation… Kobe Bryant… few on the list have what Kobe has as a player and a competitor…. I;d strongly consider Tim Duncan… would not even look at Iverson or KG… but this is jaded, because I know what each as done… on draft day you do not get that luxury.

  29. Brandon

    WHere do you see dwight ending up and how?

    • Steve Kyler

      when did I become the Magic 8 Ball….

      ● Reply hazy, try again
      ● Ask again later
      ● Better not tell you now
      ● Cannot predict now
      ● Concentrate and ask again

      I have said for some time, I think he’ll be a Brooklyn Net next year… tomorrow he’ll be In Orlando and I think he’ll be in Orlando at least until March 15th… from there… Reply hazy, try again.

      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.