NBA Rumors Chat With Steve Kyler 2/7/13

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. Alex in Burbank

    If the Lakers lose Pau for a while and with Howard out as well. Who can they pick up?

    • Steve Kyler

      Welcome in everyone… hope the week has been good to you. The trade deadline is approaching and there are lots of questions to get to, so lets get after them.

      I have asked that question and the response I get is this – can anyone sitting at home on the sofa really help them right now? and the answer to that questions seems to be no. Equally, whoever they bring in is going to want guaranteed money and a defined role, not sure the Lakers are open to either of those requests.

      I get the sense that Mitch and company are looking at trade possibilities or players that might get waived after the trade deadline more so than anyone on the outside of the NBA looking in simply because the Lakers have no time to get someone in game shape.

      I won’t say signing a player is impossible, but it really does not seem like that is where the Lakers are going.

      The Lakers have also been really clear that the last thing the team needs is more change.

  2. Deven

    Any chance there might be a Deron Williams like trade for this upcoming trade deadline? In other words, a trade that nobody ever heard about or didn’t expect to happen at all?

    • Steve Kyler

      If I could point out the player, wouldn’t that defeat the premise?

      I think most of the guys you’ve heard about are the guys under consideration. I wonder about Danny Granger. I wonder about Jameer Nelson. I wonder about Ersan Ilyasova.

      Those are all three names I have heard from other teams, but have not heard a lot about in the press.

      I don’t see a holy crap trade coming, but generally the holy crap trades are the ones you didn’t see coming.

  3. Deven

    Do you think the Celtics are playing better without Rajon Rondo?

    • Steve Kyler

      Yes.

      Less pounding of the basketball, more passing, more ball movement and more guys trying to fill the void rather than watching Rondo work.

  4. Deven

    Could you please explain to me why there are captains for All-Star Saturday night? How will everything work?

    • Steve Kyler

      There has been desperation about making Saturday interesting again, and I think the belief in having a notable player cheering, coaching and talking smack adds that element. They tried to do the MC route with Kenny Smith and that was awful… so we’ll see how “captains” work.

  5. Deven

    How important was that homestand for the Knicks?

    • Steve Kyler

      Not sure what your looking for here… but if you look at the top of the East, your talking three-four games between home court and non-home court, so sure. Having a good home stand matters, but there are 35 games left and injuries are setting in around the league, so nothing is settled yet.

  6. willie

    hi how true is hedo to brooklyn for humphries and marshon and what is rob looking to draft a big or wing or point

    • Steve Kyler

      Nothing there from what I have been told.

      Keep in mind Orlando does not want to take on salary… so not sure how Humphries, who guys HATE playing with works.

      As for the draft… that’s not anything defined yet. I think you can look at the roster and say Front court is basically set… Small forward looks good… they have two quality two guards and Jameer. My money say point guard or best impact guy available, but Orlando isn’t picking names yet. They have a very thorough workout process and try and narrow it down to guys they feel fit the plan going forward.

      Hard to do that based on college games. Who the guy is and how the guys ticks is going to play a HUGE part in building the team.

  7. LA in LA

    Hey Kyler.
    1) First: Saw this on hoopshype: “The San Antonio Spurs are the front-runners to land Al Jefferson in a trade with the Utah Jazz – and they are frontrunners like Secretariat was in the 1973 Belmont Stakes. Here’s why, followed by a how. “Those teams are practically incestuous, they are on such good terms internally,” one NBA source told me Wednesday”
    Are you buying that?

    2) I have a conspiracy theory that the Spurs organization is happily letting their employees sign with other teams because they want an ex Spur to be a GM or assistant GM (which they usually do) for many other teams so that way when it comes time to make trade, the Spurs know they will have a close relationship with that front office, which obviously is a plus. ex: So if Jazz have to choose between sending Big Al to Spurs or Houston and both (hypothetically) have equal or near equal assets, they’ll pick the Spurs.

    • Steve Kyler

      “First: Saw this on hoopshype” – its from Sheridenhoops, make sure you get your sourcing right.

      — No I am not buying the concept.

      So let me get this straight… you believe that the Spurs are “planting” executives around the league for their own gain and that the other teams are such morons that they’ll let that happen?

      No.

      Are the former Spurs guys more chatty than say non-Spurs guys… sure. Is Dennis Lindsey going to screw himself and the Jazz so the Spurs can do better? No.

      Here is the part no one mentions. Who scouted half the Spurs roster? Who pushed for the Spurs to sign a specific player… that is something to consider.

      Dennis Lindsey knows a lot of the Spurs guys extremely well, so he may see greater value in them than others because of how much work he did on them, but I can tell you Greg Miller and Kevin O’Connor still have a lot of say in whats going on in Utah and Dennis isn’t screwing himself or his team to help San Antonio.

  8. LA in LA

    1) Pincus suggested Spurs might be willing to move Blair for a Trade exception and a 2nd pick, i.e. the Lakers. Thoughts?

    2) Does Gasol’s 6 week injury mean Lakers will go after a back up center? No way we can rely on Sacre to play 20mpg.

    3) Based on what you’ve seen is Brook Lopez a top 5 big? After Horford, Duncan, and Noah, there’s no one who MUST be in front of him. Lopez has a respectable mid range game, nice post moves, has improved defensively, and remembered how to rebound. Unlike McGee and Hibbert, he’s been worth EVERY penny.

    • Steve Kyler

      — They want a draft pick, but as the deadline gets closer who knows what happens.

      — D’Antoni doesn’t play post-basketball anyway, so does it mater?

      — I think Brook has become the player Brooklyn envisioned when they drafted him. I still question his rebounding, that is a core part of the position he plays, but his offense and his impact are undeniable.

      I know people point to Humphries and Reggie Evans has gobblers of the boards, but look at Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol — Brook just isn’t a good rebounder and I think that is a knock on him as a TOP center. Centers are supposed to rebound, that is part of the position.

  9. Peter

    Hey Steve! A lot of rumors revolving around Houston and Dwight Howard. It’s widely known that Morey has coveted howard for quite sometime now. With LAL seemingly on the verge of missing the playoffs, will the rockets try to persuade DH12 to join Lin and Harden? I also heard that if Superman turns down Hou, they will turn their attention to Bynum. I don’t know why Hou are desperately looking for a Center. They have an up-and-coming one in Asik. I recommend them to go for a star Power-Forward instead. Thoughts?

    • Steve Kyler

      I think they will try, but I am not sure Dwight leaves a major market like LA for Houston.

      If he is leaving I think Dallas or Atlanta have more appeal for Dwight. Bynum is the one I’d watch, because I think he can be had.

  10. paprika

    Pau and mwp for nene?

    • Steve Kyler

      Crazy talk… Pau is out until mid to late March.

  11. Deven

    What’s the secret to the Spurs success? Are they better than any other organization in the league?

    • Steve Kyler

      They let nothing… absolutely nothing get in the way of basketball. No egos, not rifts with the coaches… no media circuses. Its about system, culture and playing as a unit and every buys in or they are shipped out.

      I think it helps that their top guys support that system and that no one in the organization will let distraction enter the equation.

  12. Jeboy

    any chance the Cs getting Amundson and/or Telfair via waiver? will these 2 can help the team this season?

  13. Arnie

    fact or fiction?

    presently constructed, celtics can beat bulls in a 7-game series.

    • Steve Kyler

      Tough one… I say fiction, because this Bulls team has been amazing.

      I will give a nod to how well the C’s have played without Rondo, but the Bulls have been really good and they’ll get Derrick Rose back after All-Star.

  14. Jon

    Are u surprised with the way Nelson has been plating that there has not been a lot of teams asking for him?

    Anyway Magic can pry Blesdsoe from the Clippers?

    • Steve Kyler

      No on Bledsoe… Clips not trading him until maybe the off-season… CP3 is injured and they control Eric for the next two years, so no reason to trade him.

      Teams have called about Jameer. The Magic value him and he does not want to move, but everything is about what Orlando gets back and at 14 wins you can’t be in love.

  15. SatBchMagicer

    Good morning Steve, following a thread from last week’s chat regarding ‘less’ playing time of ORL PF’s Nicholson/McRoberts, in 2 weeks just prior to Davis injury; your answer directly answered/applied to Nicholson(thank you), but didn’t really seem to address McRoberts: he not a rookie-5th year vet, he’s not ‘NBA’ young-will be 26 this month; so I ask about him again: With all of then/now Magic injury ‘situations’, since Jan. 14 Glen Davis return/new injury…13 games, he has only played more than 15 min per game 3 times, with a ‘mid-streak’ of 4 DNPs and only 1 start; Is he in Magic/Vaughan/Heenigan ‘doghouse’? I ask this again because, at least right now…Turkoglu certainly is NOT some of solution to ORL’s current woes.

    • Steve Kyler

      I wish I had a clever answer for you… Josh plays, he plays the role Jacque wants him to play… the team is in full on development mode and Josh is not part of the future. They also desperately want a win, so there is that.

  16. SatBchMagicer

    Hi Steve, is it just in my thinking or does 12/13 season seem to have ‘exploded’ with players having ‘plantar fascia’ injury problems? I’m aware it has always been more of a ‘big man’ issue, but I can’t recall any recent or for that matter any longer ago season in which so many NBA’ers seemed to be dealing with this- ligament on bottom of foot, connecting heel bone to ‘ball’ of foot area- type of injury/condition. You have covered NBA for quite a while, what is your take on this? Especially with today’s ‘supposed’ better footwear(so much of it ‘customized’) and definitely better team trainer/medical care.

    • Steve Kyler

      Shoes.

      Guys will never say it because of the money they are paid, but as the shoe companies try and make shoes lighter and more scientifically sound I hear guys complain about plantar issues as it relates to the variety of shoes they wear. Guys are often asked to wear specific models of shoes during certain times of the year to help them move product.

      Not blaming any one company, because I think if you look the guys having the problems are not just one company or the other.

      Also if you have every had a bad case plantar fasciitis it does not go away quickly… guys try to play through it, but its a nasty injury. It becomes one of those things that is hard to shake when you try and tough it out.

  17. Aristotle

    Hey there Steve
    Which team would you wish drafted you and what jersey number would you pick to wear when growing up and dreaming of making the NBA?

    • Steve Kyler

      Never been good enough as a player to have “draft” dream… But my number is 20… and seeing Kyler on the back of Laker, Celtic, or Magic jersey that meant something would be pretty cool. Maybe my little guy will have more skills than his Pops.

  18. Aristotle

    Hey again Steve,
    Just read the piece on Memphis and ZBo and I’m struggling to understand what is going on… You trade Gay and you possibly look to trade ZBo. ..who is the club expecting to bring in? Dwight? Looks like they’re happy to let it be.

    • Steve Kyler

      I can tell you Memphis said bluntly “zero” truth to the idea of trading Zach.

      I think people see what the team did with Rudy and think they’ll do the same with Zach and thats not the case. I wonder how that changes if Zach turns on them in the media, but based on what was said yesterday Memphis isn’t looking at anything with Zach.

      They were honest about Rudy in that they were looking, they never denied that. In fact they were pretty clear what it would take to get him and whats they got was what they defined.

      I am sure the interest in Zach is inbound, not outbound.

  19. JP

    Hi Steve! How are you? I have a question to ask you?
    Is it about time for Minnesota to throw this season and review the best actions to be taken for the next one? Which will mean picking a top 3 pick in which Shabazz would be more than ideal or if not Ben McLemore. The plan could also include trying to get Josh Smith giving Nikola Pekovic (using Kevin Love as a stretch five). And getting another picks. What do you think?
    Which option would it be better?
    A) Starters: Rubio-Shabazz-Williams-Love-Noel
    Bench: Barea-Shved-MLee-Oladipo-Tim Hardaway Jr-Gelabale-Budinger-Johnson-Dante-Stiemsma
    B) Starters: Rubio-Shabazz-Williams-Josh Smith-Love
    Bench: Barea-Shved-MLee-Oladipo-Tim Hardaway Jr-Gelabale-Budinger-Johnson-Dante-Stiemsma
    Players to be moved: Kirilenko-Pek-Luke-Admunson.
    A key piece in our move forward is that we currently have 3 first round picks and 3 second round picks to be selected.
    Please let me know!
    Thanks!

    • Steve Kyler

      I really don’t have the mental capacity to do this kind of algebra in a chat… sorry.

  20. SatBchMagicer

    At the NBA site, in their box score entries for ‘roster’, what is the difference denoted by: player name, DNP-Coaches Decision; and player name, min played-’00:00′, with all other entries ’0′?

    • Steve Kyler

      I have no idea. You’d have to ask the NBA why they do that. Next time I have a discussion on that I’ll ask for you.

  21. Chris

    The Wizards are getting hammered over their 2011 Draft of Vesely and Singleton. Do either of these guys have any trade value? Are they decent players lost in a dysfunctional situation or just plain busts?

    • Steve Kyler

      Not much… but I will tell you, sometimes in the draft you take the dare to be great approach… but considering the dismal hole the team has been in, I think that draft is likely more a reflection of the need for change at the executive level than anything about the player.

      Both guys went in their “range” its not like it was a huge reach to take them.

  22. Tyler S

    You say it’s all about return for a trade involving JJ Redick or any other Magic player. In your opinion, what would Rob Hennigan see as an acceptable return for the Magic? What specific players or picks would need to be involved to get a deal done besides rookie contract players and picks?

    • Steve Kyler

      Unprotected first round picks this year and next year. If you want Magic players or pieces, bring your draft picks to the table.

  23. Damian

    Hey Steve, in regards to the Dallas Mavericks situation, at what point would you consider becoming sellers of Marion and/or Carter? What’s the league interest in either veteran player? Thanks!

    • Steve Kyler

      I think Dallas is already there. As for interest its always about what do you have to give up. For instance can two ending contracts get you Shawn Marion?… if so lots of teams would do that. If you have to give Dallas draft picks or real assets, the number of teams drops.

  24. Cristy

    Everyone keeps saying the Twolves should just ride this season out and wait for everyone to get healthy next season. I think they STILL need to make a move regardless of how healthy they are. What’s their best bet?

    • Steve Kyler

      Not sure they have a move to make that does not cost them a core piece. That is why you are hearing what you are hearing.

  25. Jake

    Any buzz around the Magic in trade rumors lately? Who are they looking to move?

  26. Keith

    Is evident that the Bucks need to make a move…What is your most likely scenario for a trade involving them? Monte Ellis must have some value to a contender, packaged with a big, that can net Milwaukee a player that will contribute now and the future

    • Steve Kyler

      They have guys like Samuel Dalmbert, Drew Gooden and even Ersan Ilyasova out there… not Jennings or Ellis.

  27. Beau

    Why would Utah trade Jefferson over Millsap? Favors is ready for big minutes now, and neither he nor Millsap can play the 5. Kanter is not ready to be the full time starter, so wouldn’t Utah be best served trading Millsap and keeping Jefferson?

    • Steve Kyler

      There is a sense that they can keep Paul and that Paul is the better asset for the future than Jefferson. Its not about who else they have, its about who they think fits the future of the team best.

  28. Matt from Houston

    1) Would it be best for Houston to try and acquire their future PF by trade this month, or to just wait until FA? 2) Would Cousins be worth the risk, given how dominant he could be in this Houston lineup? 3) Any chance the Rockets acquire Kevin Love?

    • Steve Kyler

      1) Would it be best for Houston to try and acquire their future PF by trade this month, or to just wait until FA?
      — Rockets buzz word is flexibility. They got this roster having flexibility and they won’t compromise that unless its exactly the guy they want.

      2) Would Cousins be worth the risk, given how dominant he could be in this Houston lineup?
      — Sacramento won’t trade him and the Rockets don’t have the kinds of assets outside of say harden that would get Sac to entertain it.

      3) Any chance the Rockets acquire Kevin Love?
      — None.

  29. Jeff

    Andrea Bargnani have any value around the league?

    • Steve Kyler

      If he keeps playing like he did last night. He has to prove he can be effective.

  30. Jeff

    Do you think the Wizards would give away Nene and Okafor for Salary relief? And if your answer is no, should they be looking for a new GM/new direction?

    • Steve Kyler

      I think they would look at both.

      I’ll be surprised if Ted Leonsis doesn’t clean house this summer. Its over due.

  31. Eric

    Why is Al Harrington tweeting, ‘some one please wake me up from this nightmare’ He have a set back?

    • Steve Kyler

      Talked with Al last night… he means all the losing. He says he feels good and that things are progressing, but its a scary and difficult thing when you get a staph infection in your blood stream.

      You should Google Staph Infection and sepsis — this isn’t just a normal thing.

      Al does not have a role in Orlando, and I am not sure he will. He’s kind of painted into a corner and i think there is some frustration over how he got to this point. He thought he was having normal surgery, then he get the infection and its hard to fight back from all of that, then add a never ending losing streak and that is hard for a guy that wants to compete. Not a lot of basketball left for Al and I think its hard to see it wasted.

      No one likes being on a losing team.

  32. John

    Steve, why do players not like playing with Hump? Is it because of the way that he plays or off the court stuff?

    (Please keep in mind, i have never watched 1 minute of reality television and know nothing about all that nonsense)

    • Steve Kyler

      He is a high maintenance guy. There is a reason he’s bounced around so much and there is a reason there wans’t a huge market for him in free agency.

  33. mark holmes

    does detroit make any more trades before
    the deadline

    • Steve Kyler

      I think that they have to look at moving Rod Stuckey… if not at the deadline around the draft.

  34. Joe

    Celts to trade KG and/or PP? How about a blockbuster with both to Clips?

    • Steve Kyler

      Clips don’t want any part of it. They like this team and they are fairly confident they can be a real power team once everyone gets healthy.

      You are also talking about moving $28 million in salary… hat would be nearly impossible for the Clippers to do without including Blake Griffin or Chris Paul.

  35. Mike

    With the Pistons looking to clear cap space and build around Drummond and Monroe, do you see them finding a taker for Stuckey and/or Jerebko?

    • Steve Kyler

      They like Jonas. I think Stuckey is the odd man out.

  36. Jaksa

    Hi,Steve!
    Greetings from Croatia.
    I’m a big Timberwolves fan.Can you help me answer,when will they finally get a decent or at least starting caliber SG? Are they blind ? Because through whole their history I can only call Sprewell a great SG. They won’t go anywhere without at least good SG.

    • Steve Kyler

      Not feeling Alexy Shved?… they Wolves have kicked the tires, they just don’t have the trade assets teams are looking for.

  37. Shaun

    Any idea on who the Slam Dunk participants will be? DeAndre-TRoss-HBarnes who else?

  38. Shaun

    Nerlens, Shabazz, or McLemore. Who fits the Suns best right now. Assuming they end up getting a top 5 pick.

  39. Bill

    Hey Steve, love your stuff and HW! Seems kind of quite on the trade front. In reality what are the Jazz looking for in trade if they give up Al.Jeff or Milsap? Unless they get a starting PG, why trade.

    • Steve Kyler

      We’re hearing the same amount of chatter as normal… your not getting nearly the specific, but you start getting that stuff after All-Star.

      As for Utah… not sure they can get a “starting” point guard, but I know they are active on a lot of fronts.

  40. Mark

    Wut up Steve,

    Random question.

    I have always wondered do NBA players wear regular shoes that you buy at Foot Locker or do they get them specially made from the Shoe companies directly.(For example with better materials)

    • Steve Kyler

      Almost every guy in the league has some kind of shoe deal, even if its just free product… the teams store their shoes and interface with the companies that sponsor them.

      The shoe companies typically have a person that manages a players needs. They do detailed measurements and customizations for guys. Almost every player I know wear Orthotic inserts (special inserts designed to help support their specific needs).

      Most guys have their nickname or some kind of logo/number on their shoes and most guys where a brand new pair every game.

      Most guys get a budget allotment in gear as part of their deal, so they can get shoes, sweatshirts, socks, underwear… you name it. The magic players give Aaron Afflao crap because you almost always see him wear something with adidas on it, he has a closet full of adidas gear.

      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.