NBA Rumors Chat With Steve Kyler 3/21/13

1. Jazzaholic

   Any theories on the Jazz free fall?

   Thought on Corbin’s coaching?

   • Steve Kyler

     Welcome in everyone… Its Tourney time, so lots of things to get to. Lets jump right in…

     I don’t want to believe this, but it seems like Ty Corbin has lost his team… not sure if that is him or them, but the Jazz are just not in synch and it shows on the floor.

     Wonder if Stan Van Gundy would consider the Jazz this summer? He’d be a great fit.

2. LA in LA

   I saw this in Zach Lowe article: “Players are worried about committing a defensive three-seconds violation. But Nori says they shouldn’t be. ‘Have you seen a game where they’ve called more than three?’ he asks. ‘Even if they call three, if I can get away with 15, I should be in the paint. Everything you hear from the league is about flow and pace and not slowing the game down with technical fouls.’”
   Is that true?

   And if so does that apply on offense too?

   • Steve Kyler

     Is what true – that the person said that to Zach or that the concept is valid?

     The concept is absolutely valid… and the bigger concept is this. How do you unteach guys things they have done their entire playing career. How do you get guys in a free agent world to sell-out to the system? That is the challenge. The special teams can do that.

     I watched Chris Bosh his first year in Miami tell a coach, who was trying to teach him something, “Nah, that’s not how I do it…” Its hard to get guys to do things they don’t want to do in the NBA. Which is why the concept of “buying in” matters, and why “losing your team” as a coach usually ends up in losing, because guys stop trusting the system and start trusting and doing what they know.

     Does the league want a more fluid up and down game… absolutely. Are refs not going to call three-seconds? I think if you ask coaches they will tell you its not called enough, but if a team starts camping out in the paint to play the odds they will lose that game, because eventually the NBA will issue an Emphasis Bulletin on them and refs will call it more.

     That was a great article on the new XY camera systems by the way, there is a lot of new technology that’s coming into play that is pretty amazing. — Zach’s not too bad either

3. LA in LA

   When was the last time there was an NBA player who you saw little or none of play in college that you thought would be really good just from his highlight reel and general vibe that ended up being a really good player?

   • Steve Kyler

     Not sure I get the question… I had not seen a ton of Jonas Valanciunas before the draft process, but after seeing tape understood what he could be.

     I am probably not the right guy to ask that question to because I cover the Draft professionally. I watch tape on all of the major prospects and I visit with most of them in their workout environments before the draft. So before they are drafted I have a lot of background on them.

     I can say I think there are more guys that didn’t make it in the NBA or were not drafted that I can not explain, more so than guys that have highlight packages.

     I am more mechanical in my evaluation… its not what you do, but how you do it… footwork, control, body type, fundamental mechanics. You can see those things in highlight reels too.

4. LA in LA

   Hey Kyler, 2 Laker hypotheticals:

   1)Do you agree with the people who say that if, IF, Lebron came to Lakers in 2014 and Kobe decided not to retire, that they couldn’t get along (on court and personality wise)?

   2) If Kobe decides not to retire would he be willing to except something like $9-12 mil per year? I can’t see the Lakers extending him since Coon said “it would be for 2 seasons and the first one can’t be lower than 60% of what he’s making in 2013-2014.”
   I can’t see Lakers paying him %60 of $30mil ($18mil)

   • Steve Kyler

     First… couldn’t get along?. Not sure I buy that. But I don’t think LeBron is leaving Miami, so anything beyond that is kind of fruitless to debate.

     Second… Money equals power and respect in the NBA. When you make $9 million you can be easily traded… when you make $30 million, its a lot harder.

     Would Kobe sacrifice major money to stay with the Lakers? I doubt that. I doubt that anyone in his life lets that happen. If Kevin Garnett got $10 million and Tim Duncan got $10 million, Kobe’s getting more than that.

     The 60% Larry is talking about is in an extension. If Kobe hits free agency that does not apply. He’d have Bird Rights and could sign for whatever he agreed to. I don’t think Kobe signs-on for another $30 million year, but I also don’t think Kobe comes back on a bargain deal, he is worth too much to the Lakers off the court for him to give them a huge discount.

5. ralph lawrence

   assuming kings will stay in sacramento and will have new ownership and management is it safe to say jimmer will be traded this offseason given the fact toney douglas and evans will be re-signed this offseason? maybe trade jimmer, james johnson and some other parts for maybe a solid SF? do they have a chance to trade for danny granger?

   • Steve Kyler

     Way too many assumptions to answer that… who is the GM, who is the coach? who is the owner? — there just isn’t anything to know yet to even try and speculate about what happens in the off-season.

6. Prismelk

   Greetings! Love your chats.

   Can you name active players (as much as you can) who has the ability to put a quadruple-double?! Thanks!

   • Steve Kyler

     Ability?

     LeBron… Dwight… Chris Paul… Carmelo Anthony… Kyrie Irving.

     David Robinson did it in 1994 with 34pts, 10 assists, 10 rebounds, 2 steals and 10 blocked shots.

     If you count turnovers you could add a couple of more guys, but that is a monster accomplishment that would be extremely hard to do in the modern NBA.

     Here is a fun trivia question… who has recorded a Quintuple-double (double figures in five stat categories) —

     Tamika Catchings did it in a high school game with 25 points, 18 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 steals and 10 blocks

7. Prismelk

   Do you think the 2012 Miami Heat can beat (in a playoff series of course) any of the four (4) San Antonio Spurs championship squad?

   Your thoughts, please?! Thanks!

   • Steve Kyler

     Do I think?… sure, you win 24 straight you are capable of almost anything…. but that is an opinion, there is no way to prove or disprove, so whats that mean?

     I don;t spend a lot of time on this kind of thing. Too many real things happening.

8. Prismelk

   Inter-related questions about my favorite player Tracy McGrady.

   T-Mac had a 30 PER in his prime year, but was that all for him? Was his skill set on that year his ceiling?

   Without the injuries, how good could he have been?

   Your thoughts, please?! Thanks!

   • Steve Kyler

     Tracy McGrady had an amazing skill set… had he ever been driven to be great like say Kobe Bryant, he had the skill set to achieve a lot more than he did, but here is the thing and I think we covered this a few chats ago. Not everyone cares about being the best player ever. Not every one wants to spend their lives in the gym killing their bodies and there is nothing wrong with doing your job and enjoying the fruits of your talents…. but when you ask how good Tracy could have been? He could have been one of the greatest ever, he just never put in the kind of work those that truly will be remember as greatest ever put in.

9. Rogu

   Got a interesting one for you, MJ and Pippen VS. Kobe and KBJ, who wins?

   • Steve Kyler

     Again… don’t spend any brain power on this kind of stuff… different generations, different skill sets… how do you prove or disprove… its just an opinion and that doesn’t mean anything.

     But to try and give you a dime for your question…

     I think MJ and Kobe cancel each other out. if they play one-on-one 10 times, they each win five games. Just how I see it. As for LeBron and Pippen… they play one-on-one ten times, LeBron wins 9 of ten. Now the chemistry and understanding of each other that MJ and Pippen had makes them far more dangerous than Kobe and LeBron… so in a two-on-two I give the nod to the guys that play well together and have a bond.

10. Rogu

    If the Lakers SOMEHOW advance to the Finals and say are “clicking”, can you see them beating the team out east (prob MIA)?

    • Steve Kyler

      Stop it.

      “somehow” advance to the finals. Lets see if they can actually stay in the playoff picture first. lets see if they can actually get past a team in a series with a winning record.

11. Rogu

    Could you see this years MIA team or last year’s Championship team beat any of the past champions from the 2000′s? Excluding Dallas for obvious reasons.

    • Steve Kyler

      Again… its a hypothetical that can never be proven… so sure. I think this years team could beat any team that ever played the game. I think they could beat every team in the history of the game — how do you prove or disprove that statement?

      I just don’t look at the world that way. I am curious can they beat the Spurs this year. That is the only hypothetical that matters.

12. Arky

    Hi Steve,

    We just watched the Thunder lose to Denver (for the 3rd time in 4 meetings this season) and to Memphis. The Harden-less Thunder dominate lesser teams but just seem to get consistently edged by the best teams in the league this year. I don’t know that I’d still list them on the same line as the Spurs as a contender to win the West, I’d have Denver up there instead and even put the Grizz ahead of the Thunder too. What do you think?

    • Steve Kyler

      I think Game 60 when you have things pretty much sewn up isn’t the same as Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.

      Nothing that is being done in March and April are really going to effect what happens in May and June, except playoff seeding and possible injuries.

13. T.J.

    What do you about Tobias Harris game so far? He was a steal from the Redick trade in my opinion. What’s his future looking like? Also, Who’s the more superior player between Russell Westbrook and James Harden?

    • Steve Kyler

      Again, said this when the Magic got him… T12 is a solid player. He is getting minutes and a chance that he never got in Milwaukee.

      Both Russ and James are great NBA players… but for my money Russell is the better of the two, but its not like we’re talking a huge drop off between either guy so if your scoring them, with 100 being the best in the game — both guys live in the low 90′s, high 80′s percentile

14. Callum

    Love your chats. What’s your thoughts on Isaiah Thomas? Kings pg of future

    • Steve Kyler

      I had an executive tell me this… Thomas is the perfect sixth man point guard, but he gives up too much in terms of size and defense to be the starting point guard on a team that is winning anything.

      If the Kings ever want to contend for anything, they need someone that can defend and match Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Ty Lawson and the like. Thomas isn’t that guy.

      Is Thomas impressive? sure. Is he making the most of his size and opportunity, absolutely.

15. SatBchMagicer

    Good morning Steve, what is going on with Magic’s veteran backcourt duo- Afflalo and Nelson? Since around Feb. 1, 3 weeks before MIL trade, both those guards offensive numbers have really nosedived, espeially 3-pt production: Afflalo- 16-76(.211) and Nelson- 35-110(.318); also backup Moore- 19-63(.302). At times it looks like Afflalo not even looking to get open 3-pt shots, too many: ‘he drivng to get contact call(which he usually doesn’t get)’. Also, too many of pick and rolls for Nelson seem to be set to high above foul line to be really effective. Too many game ORL’s backcourt offense looks confused, I expect more out of the 2 vets than they have been regularly producing offensively.

    • Steve Kyler

      I can say this… the Magic are going younger. They are trying to change things up and they are trying to play high efficiency basketball.

      I noticed this last week on the Magic’s practice floor… they have added lines to their floor that basically create an inverted triangle to the basket (like this)

      

      They are teaching guys in practice how to cut and run a very precise offense.

      I think the thing you are seeing with Arron specifically, is he is trying to take higher precentage shots because he hasn’t shot the ball very well.

16. Chris

    With the Bobcats again being the worst team in the league, could you see them taking on a significant salary, such as Carlos Boozer and Rip Hamilton, if they could move Ben Gordon and Tyrus Thomas? While Boozer should never be the best player on your team, he would at least give them a front court option to pair with MKG and Kemba, while the Bulls would get reduce payroll after Gordon’s deal comes off the books next season.

    • Steve Kyler

      The Bobcats keep talking about taking on money, but at the end of the day it is still about having the revenue to write the check. I think with revenue sharing kicking in there may be more tolerance to spend, but we’re still talking about being about to write huge checks and Jordan and his ownership group have not been open tot hat.

17. Nasteedunx

    Is it safe to say Monta Ellis won’t be passing up that Player Option? Is there really a market for him above $11 million a year for next season?

    • Steve Kyler

      Let me ask this another way… In a game where every player is an ACL injury away from retirement… would you take one year at $11 million or four years at $32 million?

      The only place Monta Ellis makes $11 million a year is in Milwaukee, but there would be a number of teams willing to give him $7 or $8 million as a free agent, so its about trading $11 million guaranteed for $35 or $40 million over four years. I think once its clear who those teams are he’ll make his decision.

      Now Jamal Crawford thought he’d make $10 million a season and didn’t. So did J.R. Smith and so did Lou Williams…. I think once Ellis’ agent gets a feel for what his market is, then you’ll known.

18. Jeff

    If the Magic had their choice between Smart, Porter and Mc Lemore who’s the pick? Why?

    • Steve Kyler

      Not sure why people keep asking me this question, like I know what the Magic will do with their draft pick before they have met the player or worked them out.

      This would be like me explaining what kind of car you’ll buy before you even go test driving them.

      Marcus Smart is NOT an NBA point guard. He is a Dwyane Wade/Brandon Roy kind of two guard. He could play point if you needed him to, but he’s not a NBA point guard. So how does that work in Orlando?

      I like Otto Porter, but whats that mean for Mo Harkless and Tobias Harris?… only so many minutes to go around. I think both guys Orlando has are better than Porter now.

      I like Ben McLemore, but beyond his season this year – whats he done? – he’s gotten into trouble. He has a questionable inner circle and he hasn’t been nearly as consistent as you’d like from the guy you take at the top of the draft board. Not saying he’s not the second or third best talent on the board, he just has some wrinkles you have to understand completely before investing in him.

      Every one of those guys has real questions that the Magic would have to answer, and the only way to get those answers is through the Combine process and getting those guys in your gym and really getting a feel for how they fit into the culture you are building.

      Things on the draft front will start to take real shape in a few weeks, especially once teams picking in the lottery end their seasons and turn their focus on the draft, so until then no one knows what the draft order will be. No one knows who is declaring and not declaring and no one has had contact with the guys we’re talking about yet.

      Look at last year… Harrison Barnes was supposed to be a top 5 guy. Thomas Robinson was supposed to be second or third. Who had Dion Waiters going in the top five?

      The process has to play out to really have anything to talk about that is real, we just are not there yet.

      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.