NBA Rumors Chat With Steve Kyler 3/29/12

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. Tigermask

    Why is it in almost every chat, Hoopsworld experts refer to Garnett, Allen, and Pierce as broken down and on their last legs, but if the experts really look at it in prespective, each at this point in thier careers are still better than 80% of other starters at their positions? Why such bias? Why not give each their individual credit for how well they are playing at their respective ages? Sure they are not at their prime, but each is playing well enough to be respectable.

    • Steve Kyler

      Welcome in everyone… we are getting down to the final stretch of games and things are getting interesting in the playoff push. Lots of questions in the Que, so lets get after them…

      I can’t speak for anyone other than my self… I think the perception of Boston being old is true… they are one of the older teams in the league, especially when you factor on the age of the players who play the most minutes — http://hoopsism.com, did a great graphic showing the age of players who actually play (http://hoopism.com/?p=746)

      Boston is the third oldest team based on the age of players who play, and if you watch the Celtics they are a step slower and not nearly as good as they were when they won a championship.

      I would agree with your comment about Boston’s players being better than a larger percentage of other teams players at the same position and thats because they have three hall of famers… The C’s have been playing great as of late, and I think they are counted out too easily, but you can dispute their age. But I can agree there is a bias that Boston is too old to win that may not be true.

  2. calvinzero

    What is your personal top 5 in mock draft this year?? Why you choose them?

  3. josh

    Steve,

    Since dragic is playing so well do you think could be expendable? Could a trade of Al Jefferson or Milsap and Harris for Lowry and Martin work? That way Rockets get their big guy and Jazz get their PG.

    • Steve Kyler

      Not there yet… the Rockets will have a lot of options this summer. I can tell you they are very high on Goran, but lets not get carried away yet.

      Goran is an unrestricted free agent this summer, so he can walk if he wants to.

  4. Will

    Orlando needs a shot creator,could you see them going after Joe Johnson this offseason in a trade?

  5. Will

    Do you think both SVG and Otis are gone this offseason?

    • Steve Kyler

      Yes… I think Otis is gone for sure… and I am not sold Stan Van Gundy wants to be part of the circus anymore. It really won’t surprise me to see Stan re-sign and seek life elsewhere.

  6. porter

    Is Harden next Manu Ginobili?

    • Steve Kyler

      Really different players… but could Harden be an All-Star type guy… sure.

      But their games are totally different.

  7. cent

    What is the possibility of Miami Heat landing Mehmet Okur? Can it happen?

    • Steve Kyler

      It can… just not likely that it will.

      Memo has had ongoing back issues, it not real clear how much he can play. I don;t see Miami bringing in an injured guy.

  8. Andreas

    Ok so SCurry and Monta didnt work defensively what makes anyone think Monta and Jennings will work. Monta is specific player who needs to play with a distributor at SG or SF(PF) position. There are not to manny guys like that but Turk,Iggy,Diaw are some of them.

    • Steve Kyler

      This is a short term gamble for Milwaukee.

      They got a borderline All-Star guard for two guys that weren’t playing for them. If it does not work after basically 20 games. The Bucks can re-trade Monta somewhere else.

      if it does work, then they got something for basically nothing and they make the post-season. This was really a low risk move for Milwaukee and it shed Bogut and Jackson, both would have been hard to move anywhere else.

  9. Chris

    Just when you start to feel good about the Magic, they come out and lay a huge egg on national television. They have been blown out 5 times this year, yet own the 5th best record in the league. Why are they so inconsistent? Is SVG the problem?

    • Steve Kyler

      As I said this morning… where is the killer instinct? This team lays down too easy.

      I think they are inconsistent because of lack of practice and prep time.

  10. Chris

    Hi Steve. How has Chicago’s recent run of success in the Thibs era changed the perception of the Bulls in the eyes of free agents. In the era of brand building (how sad is that), you’d have to think winning and playing with great teammates has to have some appeal.

    • Steve Kyler

      Are you asking me if Free agents are going to flock to Chicago?… No. They don’t have any money to offer and their roster is fairly set.

      When money is equal, would a player choose Chicago over say Memphis… absolutely.

      Chicago was never viewed negatively, players understand its a great sports market… but guys looks for paydays, playing time, the ability to win and lifestyle.

      The first two are off the table…

  11. Trevor

    Why is it that Stan never changes up the lineup especially when some guys are playing poorly? You cant say Ish is any worse than Duhon and hedo and JRich are just playing terrible. Do you think its time to switch things up and has anyone asked Stan directly why he keeps playing guys who look disinterested? Also Otis for worst executive of the decade? I mean 4 year deals for JRich Duhon, Q, BBD? Really?

    • Steve Kyler

      I think the problem here is what you are looking for and what Stan is looking for are two different things.

      Stan does not care about offense… his first concern is defense. Guys that can not run the defense competently do not play.

      Its a philosophical approach… Offense is a reward for playing good defense.

      The Magic run a scheme based defense. There are plays and assignments… its not playground ball where you guard your man… there are principals and rules and the guys that can run the defense, play.

      Stan is reluctant to play guys that he doesn’t see running the plays in practice. Limited practice and coaching time mean that guys like Ish Smith and Justin Harper just don’t see the floor.

      Its not that they can not play offensively, its that they have not shown an ability to run the defense.

  12. Adam

    If Orlando uses up all of their cap room next summer can they still sign Dwight and go into the luxury tax due to his bird rights? If my math is right, waiving Turk/Duhon ($7.5), signing Anderson (about $6.5), retaining Q and JRich ($2.8+ $6.2) and stretching Baby ($2.6) would leave them at $25.6 and around $30-35 in cap depending on the new number. Stricter rules on going over tax line will be in play but how likely is something like this to occur, freeing up room for guys like Smith/ Ellis?

    • Steve Kyler

      The Magic will not have cap room in July… they can get there in July of 2013.

      That’s so far away right now, its not even worth speculating on, because I think the Magic are either going to demand an long term extension this summer or trade Dwight like New Orleans did with Chris Paul.

      I think they will make some changes to the team, put some different pieces in place and put it back on Dwight.

      I do not think either side wants to go through Indecision Part 2.

  13. Greg

    will there be max money handed out next summer to anyone not named Dwight or Chris?

    • Steve Kyler

      Deron Williams will get max… I think Eric Gordon will get paid well, especially if he plays well these final weeks of the season.

      I think Roy Hibbert gets paid. I think Gerald Wallace does OK… neither will get max, but both get major money.

  14. Alex

    Hi Steve,

    do you think Steve Nash and Grant Hill will resign in Phoenix? If not, which team would be the best destination for them. I’d love to see Hill in Chicago.

    • Steve Kyler

      I think they might. Phoenix has been good for both professionally and physically… not sure either is ready to leave.

      I could see Steve Nash looking for a championship and if Steve leaves I think Grant will too… so thats the real question.

      Phoenix will pay both guys more than anyone else, so there is that to factor in too.

  15. Jazzfan

    Devin Harris has stepped up his play a lot since the all star break if he keeps this up do you still draft a PG in the first round (if we still have a pick that is) or do you hold off?

    • Steve Kyler

      Yes.

      Devin has been terrible as a member of the Jazz, you absolutely have to draft or sign a point guard. I think Devin’s play might help you trade him, but there is no doubt the Jazz need to draft a point guard… Damian Lillard is my guy if he is there when the Jazz draft.

  16. Mark

    Hey Steve, Do you think Avery Johnson gets the axe this offseason? The Nets have had the most injuries in the league this year but some games it seems like they just give up on him.

    • Steve Kyler

      No, I do not think Avery gets the axe.

      Injuries are a factor, and so if stability. The only way I’d even consider firing Avery is if Deron Williams wants him gone in order to stay.

  17. matt

    Can’t wait for the summer. B.Colangelo will have to make some interesting decisions this summer for the raps.

    • Steve Kyler

      They have about $41 million in salary commits… they get Jonas Valanciunas and a top 10 pick in this draft class… and a full offseason with Dwane Casey and his staff.

      $18 million in capspace should help a lot.

      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.