NBA Rumors Chat With Steve Kyler 2/23/12

Tita Swarding

Now that one by one, every NBA players who defected to China returns, I think only Wilson Chandler and Aaron Brooks remain. With Nelson sabotaging the season, can Magic make a run for Brooks?

Steve Kyler

Welcome in everyone… hope the week was good to you. I have to head out right after the chat for All-Star so I won’t waste a lot of time with chit-chat…

Can they?… sure they have their Mid-Level exception to offer, but Phoenix likely matches anything in that range. The new CBA does not allow for sign and trade deals once the season starts and if Brooks is not signed before March 1st – he can only sign with Phoenix.

I wouldn’t hold your breath on Aaron Brooks.

alan

Bulls trade: Boozer, Ronnie Brewer
Bucks Trade: Stephen Jackson, Drew Gooden, Ilyasova
Bucks lose a headache in jax and pick up some consistent offense in boozer who should fit will with bogut. The bulls gain some scoring, defense and a 5th big man who fits the system. Both teams can shed contracts that neither wants. A pick can go either way to make up value .

Steve Kyler

Yeah… this one is not gonna happen… The Bulls have a great locker room chemistry. There is no chance they mess with that by adding Stephen Jackson.

alan

A boozer for gasol trade makes little sense for the lakers, but what if the bulls added in omer asik, CJ watson and brewer and the lakers through in artest. The lakers free up some cap space and get building blocks and flexibility.

Steve Kyler

Its not going to happen that way… but OK.

AJ

I know trading Melo so soon is a long shot but seems like a good idea:

NY gets: Wallace, Crawford, Hill, and their 2012 pick back.

HOU gets: Anthony, Chris Johnson, Armon Johnson

POR gets: Martin, Dragic, Budinger

Houston gets their star. Portland adds more shooting. New York adds better complements to their current team, and adds cap-flexibility to retain players like Lin and Fields.

Steve Kyler

OK… I’d consider it… the problem is this deal and these players are not being openly considered. So while its fun to speculate its not real.

alan

bulls trade boozer, brewer, watson, asik and their #1 to the lakers for Gasol, metta world peace and barnes. The trade machine makes it look like a good deal for both teams. http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7vw7xmp

Steve Kyler

Bulls won’t do that deal… Once Rose’s extension kicks in they are way over the tax… adding Pau’s $19 mil and Metta boat anchor handicaps the team going forward.

phil.star

which team do you think will make a run on rondo? Assuming that boston are really moving him?

Steve Kyler

I think a number of teams would want him… the question is who sends what back.

The Celtics are not liquidating Rondo… they’d want real players or assets in return… I am not sold Boston is there yet on trading Rondo… I think its more likely he’s dealt around the draft or during free agency when more teams can be involved in the process – IF Boston decides they need to move him.

phil.star

how can the lakers improve there current roster? sign arenas? trade? wait for the next season and sign fa? seems like the only trading asset we have.. only gasol, bynum and kobe?

Steve Kyler

Arenas won’t improve the roster… he’ll add another guard, but if you think you win 10 more games with Arenas on board thats a reach.

The Lakers have a $8.9 million Traded Player exception… that could yield a solid player… they have guys like Steve Blake and Darius Morris that teams see as value. I will be shocked if the Lakers deal Bynum… dealing Pau only works if you get two good pieces in return, or you get one great piece in return and I do not think thats out there for Pau’s contract.

Jazzfan

Who player would you say drives you the most crazy with his inconsistency? Like he shows flashes of being a potential superstar but more often looks just average

Steve Kyler

A Player’s play generally doesn’t impact me either way… I have covered the game for almost 15 years, so I am not emotionally invested.

In general I have friends on almost every team in the league, so when I watch games I hope my friends play well… that the game is tightly contested and that no one gets hurt.

I do “root” for my friends to be successful… but I don;t get upset or annoyed if they don’t… in fact I do give guys mountains of crap when they do poorly… especially when they shoot badly.

There are guys I think could be really special if they put it all together… I like Lance Stephenson as a player… I love Earl Clark… I am thrilled for Alonzo Gee, because he and I talked about him having this kind of season.

DeMar DeRozan comes to mind… so does OJ Mayo… Brandon Jennings in terms of Superstar ability.

Kyle

Hey Steve, who says no to this deal… Josh smith and Kirk Heinrich for pau gasol and Steve Blake? Lakers save a bit of money, get younger and more athletic, and get a player slightly better equipped to start at PG. plus they still have their trade exception to maybe get beasely and could still sign arenas…. The hawks get a cheaper backup PG for a backup role and an all-star calibre big to fill in till horford gets back, and then play alongside him when he returns so he can play PF like he wants. Plus it opens up PT for mcgrady and Williams so they can quit complaining. your thoughts?

Steve Kyler

Atlanta says no… not enough coming back to the ATL… you’d also have to take Marvin Williams too… go get a third team that sends more back to Atlanta and lets talk.

Joe

That’s it, we officially live in bizarro world. When an announcer innocently, by all accounts, refers to a chink in the armour in discussing Jeremy Lin loses his job something is amiss. Chink of course referring to a dent in the armour rather than a derogatory name for asians otherwise he would be referring to Jeremy in the armour.Do you agree this has gotten a little goofy that a man would lose his livelihood even though there was no intent? One just has to ponder the deafening silence if someone walked into a stadium wearing a coonskin hat?

Steve Kyler

The announcer didn’t lose his job… he got suspended for a 30 days… the editor that allowed it to be posted was fired.

There just is no place for that… innocent or malicious you have to be smarter than that… You’ll notice that we don’t do the “Punny” headline thing here, its because I feel we need to be smarter than that.

When you control the publishing of news, you have to operate at a high level of sensitivity to everyone.

Alex

I know everybody wants you to tell them if their trade idea would work. It’s just too much fun to speculate! What do you think of this one?

Lakers get:
Sessions, Varejao, Beasley
Cavs get:
Derrick Williams, Pekovic, Wes Johnson
T-pups get:
Gasol, Ebanks/Morris

Steve Kyler

Nowhere near enough value going to Minnesota.

Andrew

Wouldn’t a trade of Harden for Ginobili help both teams. I think if the Thunder had Ginobili, it would almost guarantee that we win the championship since he brings the one thing that we are missing(experience).

Steve Kyler

I doubt seriously that either team would do the deal… but I don;t disagree with your thinking… at some point the Spurs have to get younger stars… but so far things are working nicely in their favor.

Ricky

Assuming Dwight stays, and assuming they retain Redick’s rights, will the Magic have cap room in the summer of 2013?

Steve Kyler

No.

Name	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14
Dwight Howard	$18,091,770	$19,536,360-P
Hedo Turkoglu	$11,015,850	$11,815,850	$12,000,000-N
Jameer Nelson	$7,800,000	$7,800,000-P
J.J. Redick	$6,750,000	$6,190,000-N
Glen Davis	$6,300,000	$6,400,000	$6,400,000
Jason Richardson	$5,395,000	$5,799,625	$6,204,250
Chris Duhon	$3,500,000	$3,500,000	$3,750,000-N
Quentin Richardson	$2,446,200	$2,627,400	$2,808,600-P
Ryan Anderson	$2,244,601	Q-$3,234,470
Daniel Orton	$1,097,520
Earl Clark	$1,160,000	$1,240,000-P
Von Wafer	$992,680	$1,069,509-N	$1,186,459-N
Ishmael Smith	$522,472
Justin Harper	$473,604	$762,195
DeAndre Liggins	$473,604
Larry Hughes*	$416,971
	$68,680,092	$66,740,939	$32,349,309

* No Longer With Team

Flute

Whats goin on with iverson is he goin to the dleague or what?there isnt much time left before trade line..is the deadline for signing free agents march 15 as well

Steve Kyler

Talked about it… word is he is out of cash… so I think there is desperation.

Trade Deadline is 3pm EST on March 15th…. so 21 days, 4 hours, 3 minutes and 2 seconds… or 1,828,982 seconds, 30,483 minutes (rounded down), 508 hours (rounded down) — if you keep track of such things.

Derek

I don’t get it- Pau Gasol is considered overvalued? That guy is a multiple all-star, a rare 7 footer with real skills and great intelligence. Granted he is past 30 but bigs like him age more gracefully- e.g. Tim Duncan.
Asking for an All-Star back in return is reasonable, especially if it is big for small, no?

Steve Kyler

That is how the Lakers view him too.

Will

With the Lakers out of talks for D12,it seems like he will sign with Brooklyn this summer.You agree?

Steve Kyler

That has been my view from the start… Lakers have always been an option behind staying in Orlando…. It’s Brooklyn and everyone else in no real order.

alec

Hey Steve, couple of trade ideas here, and thoughts Since Memphis doesn’t think highly of Mayo, why won’t Boston pull off a Bradley, and E.Moore for Mayo? Seems as this will benefit both teams nicely. If not, would a Rondo/Jajuan and clips pick for D.Collison/Hansboro/P.George work? If I were Boston I wouldn’t trade one of the old big 3. Just have their contracts run out so I could resign them to much smaller deals (except pierce), to make a run at Eric Gordon, and a 5 this summer wouldn’t you agree?

Steve Kyler

The Pacers really like where they are… they have a ton of cash still and feel like if they are patient they will get what they want… they are a borderline home court team now… they won’t rush this.

As for OJ and the Celtics… Memphis would move him for less… just not sure Memphis likes those guys or needs what they bring….

Judy

I have been having a heated debate about Hawks..This guy wants the Hawks to trade for OJ Mayo to be the PG. He says that he is being misused in Memphis and that he can be a great P-n-R PG for the Hawks. He actually said OJ will make us contenders, Am I missing something about OJ mayo because I do not see what this guy is talking about? Help me please!!!

Steve Kyler

OJ would improve the Hawks… but not enough to say they are contenders… the hawks have a ton of guys like OJ… remember Tracy McGrady is there, so is Willie Green… Joe Johnson… lots og guys that need shots… they need some beef to contend… That is not what OJ brings…

Derek

Hi Steve!! Give me a realistic trade or moves that makes Dwight stay in O-town.

Steve Kyler

You guys keep hanging on to this idea that a trade of any magnitude keeps Dwight in Orlando… Its not about that.

Unless Miami decides to drop Dwayne Wade in Orlando… or Deron Williams gets traded for scraps… its not likely going to turn the situation because its bigger than roster parts… Its about the future… its about life away from basketball… he said as much last night:

“I wish more people could see how it feels to go into another arena and have the big faces, the posters. It’s a blessing and a whole new experience. It feels good to have a great reception, not only here, but everywhere I go.”

He wants the rock star treatment… its bigger than the roster.

Alex

Hi Steve,

Can you give some comments about this trade proposal?

HOU gets:
P.Gasol, Kaman

LAL gets:
M.Williams
Scola

LAC gets:
K.Martin

NOH gets:
J.Hill, Flynn, T.Williams, NYK 1R pick

I think all 4 teams will get what they want in this trade.

Houston gets 2 former All Star frontcourt

LAL solved their PG problem without downgrading too much in PF position

LAC gets a borderline All star SG

NOH gets a bunch of young player with some upside. If it turned out they don’t fit they can use them as expiring contract. In the mean time they cut 5M in the salary. Plus the pick they want

Steve Kyler

Its not a real trade so the only comment I can really make is that it moves a lot of guys around….

But by my count you have eight players and four teams… thats a hard situation to put together in mid-season, especially for teams that winning games like the Clippers and Rockets.

Rodney

Hey Steve, Is Boston the kind of market that can rebuild thru free agency? In other words would someone like dwight or Deron even consider Boston? Or are they going to have to go back to the draft or rely on Danny Ainge pulling off another series of master trades like he did a few years back?

Steve Kyler

No on Dwight and Deron… Boston is not on either guys radar…

Yes on rebuild through free agency… they have mountains of money, a great player friendly coach… awesome sports market.

Joe Shafer

I understand Houston lacks an all-star caliber player, but why does EVERY trade idea mentioned have us sending two or three very good starters for an aging all-star with a bloated contract and seriously declining skills (aka Pau Gasol)? It is ludicrous to think we would trade a 26 year old PG playing at a near all-star level for that garbage.

Steve Kyler

To get an elite guy you have to give up the promise of youth…

How many times has Houston had the means to land a player and not gotten them… Bosh, Nene.. Gasol… they swing and miss. The only way they get what they want is to trade for it… that comes with a premium.

Justin

Love the chats Steve…now what for my 76ers? They have lost 5straight and there is a problem and adding to that, Hawes might be out awhile? What should they do to right the ship?

Steve Kyler

They say they like their team… but I think they have to consider moving someone for some front court help… Elton is not that guy and few teams would even sniff at his contract, so that brings you to either Lou Williams (low salary) or Andre (big salary) as uber trade chips.

Not sure the 76ers part with either, so they have what most teams have… so nice role guys that won’t return much.

Hurricane Game

Is there any conceivable way the Bulls can land Gasol for 1 of Watson/lucas/james, 1 of Butler/brewer, Boozer, and either 2012 Bulls or the 2016 Bobcats pick?

doesnt seem like any team outside of minny will give L.A the value they want, and im not sure how much they value a package built around beasley and rindhour vs a package including watson and brewer, two impact players who can help them right now

Steve Kyler

No chance for that package… Lakers want a real star for Gasol.

The Laker do not have to trade Gasol, in fact they keep telling teams they are not overly interested in trading Gasol… the only scenario is if it returns a real upgrade.

Gasol is not for sale… he’s just a chip the Lakers would cash to get another star level player.

Wilson

Doug Collins’decision to start Nocioni during Brand’s absence over guys like Thad and Vucevic was downright puzzling.

Could this indicate the Sixers may be trying to showcase him (using the term very loosely here) and entice someone to take on his expiring deal for something of actual value?

Steve Kyler

Maybe… could also be about trying to find some energy and spark.

Wilson

Hey Steve, would Evan Turner & Nocioni be a realistic package for Courtney Lee, Jordan Hill and future pick?

Most Sixers fans feel like Iggy is Doug’s guy and he and Evan don’t seem like they’ll ever mesh.

Morey loves to buy low and ET has definitely shown flashes. Collins would love a guy like Lee who is essentially Jodie Meeks with much better defense and slightly less range. Hill provides cheap big man insurance in case Hawes’ asking price is too high this summer.

Your thoughts?

Steve Kyler

Maybe… not sure if that helps Houston… it moves guys around, but the same view you have on Turner a lot of teams feel the same way.

I have had two executives ask me whats wrong with Evan… mainly out of jest because I was so high on Turner coming into the NBA.

Also keep in mind Houston needs to trade up, not trade sideways and I think thats what this deal is… Lateral move.

Jennyson

can the lakers get RAMON SESSION for DARRIUS morris and 1st or 2nd round pick??

and then, BEASLEY for the trade Exception??

how can LAKERS acquire JOSE CALDERON???

Steve Kyler

Jose exceeds anything the Lakers can do unless its part of a bigger deal where someone like Pau Gasol gets shipped out.

A Lakers draft pick especially after a trade that improves them is a low 20′s pick… thats a low value pick… Darius makes $473,604, Sessions makes $4,257,973 so that can not happen.

Yes the Lakers “could” get Beasley for the TPE but why would Minnesota give away a very serviceable player… they are not in a cash crunch.. so thats unlikely to happen.

No one is “helping” the Lakers improve… to get value, you have to give value… you clearly see whats in these deals for the Lakers… whats in it for the teams your poaching players from…. not much.

Alex

Do the Magic have to give Jay-Z permission to speak to Dwight Howard even if its not basketball related? I thought it was kind of akward with him being at last nights game. Kind of felt like he was there to say “See you next year Dwight”.

Steve Kyler

Yes and No… I can exchange pleasantries with you, but I can not have basketball discussions with you… I also can not recruit you or give a pitch to you… but how do you police a conversation between two people?

Jay Z has been to two Nets games this year… so your comment might have merit.

Hurricane Game

Trade idea: Boston gets: Nash,Gortat, Suns get Rondo,O’neal and 2 2012 draft picks, currently #17 and #27 i believe

who says no?

boston frees up more 2012 cap space, gets to make 1 last run at a title, and suns get to rebuild with 3 2012 picks

Steve Kyler

Would line up with an All-In mentality…. Not sure if Phoenix would do the deal, but I bet Boston would.

Condor

Will the 6ers make a move; sell high on Iguodala & Wiiliams? They have a great record, but so many holes. They need a scorer, a big. The team never gets to the line.

Steve Kyler

I think they have to consider it… not sure they are ready to rip this apart… but they have to consider it.

Alex

I know its early but who do you think would be a good matchup for the Magic in the playoffs where you could see them advancing? Indiana? Philadelphia? New York? This team can’t beat Miami but are more proven than either of those teams.

Steve Kyler

This Magic team is so hard to gauge… right now they pull Atlanta in a 3-6 matchup… I am OK with Atlanta, with Philly or with New York… everyone else poses problems.

Ryan

What are the odds dwight leaves the magic next year? After last night it looks like 100%. Is he looking for better teammates or just tired of the magic? What could keep him?

Steve Kyler

75-25 he’s gone… thats my guess

mike

why not trade barbosa to the pacers, kings or cavs for a couple second rounders (or just one) since they can absorb his contract outright. that would leave 11.9M in cap space to offer chandler, hoping that the Nuggets wont match. Im sure BC can find out the max Denver will offer as Ujiri and BC are close. Thoughts Mr. Kyler?

Steve Kyler

That is something the Raptors are trying to do… but here is the thing… you liquidate LB, sign Wilson Chandler to an offer sheet and Denver matches… what do you have to show for it?… You gave a good player like LB away for nothing.

The other thing to consider is that Toronto could be selling Wilson on why he should take a one year in Denver and be unrestricted next summer too… there is risk there.

Hurricane Game

Could the lakers get ellis or curry and david lee for gasol and picks or is that not feasible?

Steve Kyler

Not sure there is a lot of interest in Gasol on Golden State’s part… but would GS give up those guys in a three-way deal that landed them something they want… I think a couple of them could be had.

daniel

how would basketball be different if the ABA had absorbed the NBA instead of vice versa?

Steve Kyler

The ABA was a poorly run business… so we might not have basketball…

daniel

OKC is going to be contending for awhile, but those jerseys are atrocious. How would you like to see them changed?

Steve Kyler

I would… they rushed because of how quickly that situation came together… the NBA has limits on how often you can change… I would expect a snazzier look in a few years… I will poke around this week and see if there is something to know on this front.

Shawn

Hi Steve, is HOU considering moving Martin right now, but their price is too high? Or are they waiting since they are in the playoff hunt? Wondering what it would take from the Wolves, and if the price will go down before the deadline.

Steve Kyler

I have a “lengthy” text message on my phone on this subject professing that Kevin is happy in Houston and that Houston is happy with Kevin and there is goal is to add players around Kevin and Kyle Lowry…

Take that for what its worth.

daniel

Who does Wilson Chandler play this season with?
and next season?

Steve Kyler

I think in the end it will be Denver… I think the flirt with Toronto is about leverage.

I know Toronto wants him and will pay him handsomely… I just think Denver has the edge because they hold his rights and he wants to be paid now.

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.