NBA Rumors Chat With Steve Kyler 5/3/12

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. RapsFan

    Do you think Ersan Ilyasova can play the 3 starting full time in the NBA?

    • Steve Kyler

      Welcome in everyone… Things are getting interesting on the Playoff front, and there are lots of questions in the Que, so lets get after it.

      He could… when you shoot 45% from three, you can stretch the floor, but his strength as a player is he is a hybrid type guy… I’d also question how he’d defend some of the elite SF… he creates such a mismatch at the four.

      So short answer… yes. He could play the three full time. Not sure thats the best use of his game, but he could.

  2. Will

    Orlando is desperate for a 2nd star,why not trade for Amare while his stock is low,Turk/Davis for Amare?

    • Steve Kyler

      That’s just too big of a salary hit going into the new CBA economics.

      Its arguably the worst contract in the NBA because its so massive, it cripples your cap flexibility. Its uninsured and Amar’e has not been nearly productive enough to risk it.

      The new CBA is so punitive to Luxury tax teams, there is no way to build around that deal.

  3. calvinzero

    Any rumors to the teams who are already out of contention? Give me info if there was. Thanks, Steve.

    • Steve Kyler

      Not sure I understand the question…

      Most teams are ramping up around the draft. There will be a 44 player player group workout hosted by the Nets on May 19th and 20th, thats where real conversations are going to start.

  4. AJ

    It seems like they are always saying how such and such guard has talent but “needs to make the transition to playmaking point guard.” As a Blazer fan, I have lots of experience seeing this fail. How difficult is it for a scoring guard to develop that point guard instinct?

    • Steve Kyler

      Nearly impossible.

      There is a reason why true playmakers are so coveted, because the game lends itself to scoring. Guys want to score. Guys who score get endorsements and big paydays. Its hard to teach guys that averaging 10 assists a game is more valuable than averaging 25 points.

      You generally don’t develop an instinct… either you have it or you don’t.

      You could always try writing on the tops of your shoes like my man Roy Hibbert — Stay Low… Maybe “Pass first”

  5. Chris

    Hi Steve. With D-Rose’s injury re-exposing the Bulls need for a 2nd star, do you think the Bulls will use the playoffs to showcase their trade assets to potential trading partners (Orlando, LA Lakers, Houston, and Denver)?

    • Steve Kyler

      2nd star??? — You have Luol Deng – All-Star. You have Carlos Boozer – two time All-Star.

      You have stars. You won the East two years in a row.

      Almost every team in the league drops off considerably when their best player is out.

      I don;t think the Bulls use the playoffs to showcase anything… teams know what the Bulls have. the Bulls are trying to win games. Thats all they are worried about.

  6. Josh

    Who says no?

    Cavaliers trade their lottery pick ( as long as it’s not the 1st pick ) to the Pacers for P. George and Pacers 1st round pick

  7. Tasia

    Do you think this is a possible draft day trade
    1st Phoenix buys a late 1st
    Phoenix trades Channing Frye,Josh Childress Hakeem Warrick, late 1st for Amare Stoudemire?
    New York Knicks add depth and save 3 million. I like Marcus Morris a lot but he isn’t keeping Nash in Phoenix. Nash will definitely resign if they get Amare back. The suns will also keep their lottery pick for an impact player and have a decent amount of cap to get more pieces. Childress did wonders in Woodson’s system and Warrick is just a cheap replacement.

    • Steve Kyler

      You are forgetting that Phoenix saw this coming with Amar’e… there is a reason they would only guarantee three years of his deal.

      But specifically… Channing Frye just had shoulder surgery, so no one traded for that.

      Buying draft picks does not work in the new NBA economy, teams are limited to $3 million per season, meaning the days of dropping $3 million to buy a pick are gone.

      I also think you are overstating what Nash will or will not do… I think he’s staying regardless, because Phoenix will do a $20 million deal for him that no one else will do.

  8. Mac

    In the playoffs, teams capitalize off other teams misses very well. In your opinion, who is better at converting the break into easy transition buckets? Philadelphia 76ers or Denver Nuggets

    • Steve Kyler

      Can I vote neither?

      Of the two I’d go with Philadelphia… they have four guys that are exceptional in transition and on the break in Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, Andre Iguodala and Thad Young.

  9. Charlie

    Pau Gasol was called the best passing big man in the NBA during last night’s telecast. I remember Arvydas Sabonis dropping some dirty dimes on two bum knees back in the day. Who is Steve Kyler’s current and all-time best passing big man?

    • Steve Kyler

      All-Time?… Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Chris Webber and Hakeem Olajuwon

      In the game today… Pau… Tim Duncan… Kevin Garnett for my money.

  10. Dennis

    Kenneth Faried is an absolute “monster” on the boards, yet is listed at 6″8′ and is really 6’6″. Who do you think is the better rebounder despite standing approx 6’6″: Chuck Hayes or Kenneth Faried. Also could Faried ever play center in the pros like Hayes?

    • Steve Kyler

      He measured 6′ 7.5″ in shoes at the Draft Combine — last I checked the game is played in shoes, so 6’8 is not inaccurate.

      Manimal is a beast… he is sort of a one trick pony though, he has to get better at the cerebral parts of the game, thats the big knock on him in Denver, he is all motor. Once he learns the craft of the game, he could be very-very good.

      I don;t think you’ll see him play center in a meaningful way, Denver is loaded with true Fives. Chuck played Five because Houston didn’t have anything else.

  11. Sweet Dee

    Ty Corbin got very little love for taking a poor Jazz team to the playoffs. Only coaches with top records are considered for coach of the year. However, looking at the parity of the league one can predict the top teams preseason. This essentially means 20 or so coaches are ineligible for this award before the season ever starts. They can only do so much with the players they have. Do you agree? And will a coach with team with less than a #3 seed ever win coach of the year?

    • Steve Kyler

      Thats not true at all…

      2001-02 – Rick Carlisle, Detroit — 50-32 sixth place in the NBA
      2003-04 – Hubie Brown, Memphis — 50-32 eighth place in the NBA
      2005-06 – Avery Johnson, Dallas — 60-22 third place in the NBA
      2006-07 – Sam Mitchell, Toronto — 47-35 ninth place in the NBA
      2007-08 – Byron Scott, New Orleans — 56-26 fourth place in the NBA
      2009-10 – Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City — 50-32 12th place in the NBA

  12. Alex in Burbank

    Steve, I’m sorry I don’t mean to whine or anything. We have a problem here. On every chat we have the same guy trying to tell your readers how much Durant sucks. It was cute the first time but every chat? Come on!! Also I know its probably out of your comtrol but is there any way, you guys can communicate what questions were answered? I love your site but seeing the same question answered by every writer over and over is killing it for you guys. I know you probably wont even look at my rant or even consider answering it but I bet you I’m not alone. I’d hate to stop coming here for such dumb reasons. Other than that, great site. =)

    • Steve Kyler

      “is there any way, you guys can communicate what questions were answered?”

      — No. Beyond reading each other… No. The average chat gets about 100 questions… of those we answer between 25 and 50 questions… I can only speak for myself… I wouldn’t remember all of that.

      Additionally, my chat is my chat… if you take the time to ask me a question. I am going to do my very best to answer it. That is about all the thought I put into it, because frankly, I don’t take this that seriously. This is meant to be a means for you to interact with me and for you to steer what I talk about.

      I try and give every question equal consideration… now when I have covered the topic already, I will skip questions, but the goal here is not to be elitist. You ask a question. I will do my best to answer it.

  13. James

    I think power forwards are the first to suffer statistically when their is a ball dominant 2 or 3. I don’t blame Amare at all for his troubles.. Look at Chris Bosh 24-10 to 18-8.. Amare goes from 26pts MVP candidate to invisible.

    I would be very interested to see this studied in more detail because it seems to be a pretty obvious mistake that GMs are still making.

    If you want a Mailman, get Stockton on your team. If you want Michael, get a Rodman.

    I think if either team could get Ibaka for either Bosh or Amare they could get closer to the Bulls win record. Do you think I’m crazy?

    • Steve Kyler

      Yes I think you are crazy… but I don;t think your line of thinking is wrong.

      Amar’e excels in the pick and roll… you need players who can play that way… Amar’e situation is more about bad complimentary pieces to how he likes to play.

      Bosh chose this situation knowingly.

  14. Adam Cuvilier

    Raptors should be a very different and exciting team next year, which is fantastic! Hopefully that is. I think BC has for sure kept his cool on not rushing deals and letting the young develop. This off season is key but here is the question. Will the raps draft another young player or maybe package the pick with Bayliss or the rights to sonny weems for a a veteran wing. Steve Nash also would look great in the T Dot. Thoughts?

    • Steve Kyler

      Cross Nash off the list. I just do not see that happening.

      As for trading Sonny Weems and Bayless — Not sure anyone is giving you a “missing piece” type for those guys.

      Sonny is not in their plans and has been told as much, so expect him somewhere else.

  15. Lucas

    Hi Steve,

    How are you this morning? Have you heard anything about D12 sage? What’s the latest if any. And lastly, do you think that the Knicks will keep our current coach or do something crazy?

    Thanks for your time.

    • Steve Kyler

      He has been texting his teammates and calling them… he wants to be around the guys. He is really doing almost nothing, which is killing him.

      He has also put on some weight from what I heard last night, mainly because he eats like a horse and is not doing any exercise.

      I do not think Mike Woodson is the first option… I do think they are going to park a $50 million four-year offer in front of Phil Jackson and see if he’ll come to New York… if Phil says no, then things open up for Woody.

      The problem is Woody is a great regular season coach. He is just not very creative in the post-season. He’ll need to add a real offensive genius type to his staff, if he wants to be a serious contender for the Knicks job.

  16. Trevor

    Hello Steve thanks for the Chats! I was wondering when Stan talks about lack of energy and players not being able to break down Defense why does he NEVER make adjustments to the lineup and rotations? Why not try Von for a bit at the 1 rather than Duhon with JJ and Hedo being the primary ball handlers? Does the local media ask him these type of questions? I understand he wants to play veterans who know the system but at this rate we are toast, and Liggins and Von cant be any worse on D than JRich and Duhon no matter how well they know the system.

    • Steve Kyler

      I try and explain this one every week… Most people view a basketball team based on what they do on the offensive end of the floor…. that just not how Stan sees the world.

      He wants guys who can run the defense… and in Orlando its a complex defensive scheme… they do not play man-on-man… they play a scheme thats about read and react and forcing you to places on the floor you do not want to be…. its very specific and very precise.

      On the offensive end, he wants guys that can run plays… Guys like Von Wafer are great one-on-one players, but they way he and guys like Ish Smith play, the other four guys are standing around, because what they are doing isn’t something they can understand or assist with… its Iso basketball, and Stan hates that.

      As bad as Duhon is, he runs the play exactly as its drawn up…. Stan uses this expression a lot “he gets us into our offense” — its about running sets that everyone can participate in.

      Individually the Magic have great guys that should play more, but when they are on the floor, the Magic become an Iso team and they are not nearly good enough to play freelance basketball.

  17. Knicks4ever

    Hi Steve,

    How quick they forget! A couple years back when Amar’e came to NYC he was the toast of the town and made us relevant again. Now, fans can’t stop suggesting how the team should trade him or drop his contract. Do you think he’s such a poor fit for the Knicks and the team is better off without him?

    • Steve Kyler

      This is life in NYC… you have to be careful what you wish for… there is a reason LeBron chose South Beach over Broadway

      The Knicks are a different team without him and given how Carmelo plays, I’d agree that Carmelo is better when he does not have to share the offense with Amar’e, but you can not in the new NBA economy have $20 million not playing…. thats one arm tied behind your back.

      As I covered… that contract is unmovable, unless you just take back garbage.

  18. Kevin in Tokyo

    Let’s be honest. As much as it hurts to say this, I think Ray Allen won’t be playing more than another game or two this post season. He needs to have the bone spurs removed. This isn’t a problem that will just go away with rest will it?

    • Steve Kyler

      Correct… and everyone involved knows it.

      Bone spurs are little flakes of bone typically near where two bones meet, any action causes inflammation and irritation, so there is no way that just goes away.

      The question is does Ray-Ray take a pain shot and try and play through it?… and how effective can he be on that ankle?… Keep in mind he is a free agent in July and he’ll need to weigh long-term damage for short term gain.

      I would also say with the way Avery Bradley has played, I know Boston needs Ray’s three ball, but Bradley is far more effective in breaking down defensive and a far better perimeter defender.

  19. Saulo

    Hey Steve, what do you think about this: after declining most of the QOs MN should be set at around 54M if I’m not mistaken, I would try to clear Wes’ salary to the Mavs, they need a young and athletic SF (even though he sucked this year, trade him for peanuts). Clearing enough room to offer around 8-9M per year to OJ Mayo.

    Also what do you think of a Rubio Mayo backcourt, with a frontcourt of D-Will, Love and Pek?

    • Steve Kyler

      OJ is still someone Memphis can match…. the general consensus on Wes Johnson is he just does not get the NBA game… Lots of guys don’t. I don’t think Dallas is going after a Wes Johnson with their cap space.

  20. petey pirate

    Raps sitting with the 8th pick, could they add Ed Davis and move up to the 3-5 range? Is Ed enough of a sweetener, maybe they take back a mediocre player off of the other team’s books too.

    • Steve Kyler

      I wouldn’t consider that… Could they?… sure, but I do not think they would consider it.

      They’ll get a solid piece where they are.

  21. jayjay

    Assuming draft order holds, Cavs trade the #3 & 24 pick to Portland for its #6 and #11. Who says no

    • Steve Kyler

      Not sure thats what Portland wants… At 6 and 11, Portland gets two potential starters… and 3 and 24, they get a starter and a bench guy. Kidd-Gilchrist isn’t an answer for Portland.

      They need a Center and a point guard and they could get both at 6 and 11…. there is a cost savings in moving to 24, so if your thinking is save capspace for a Steve Nash/Deron Williams offer, than maybe… but not sure thats what Portland does.

      Guys… I am out of time. Thanks for all the questions. Make sure you are following me on Twitter (@stevekylerNBA).