NBA Rumors Chat With Steve Kyler 7/12/12

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. raps fan nova

    What do you think of the Raps moves so far? Playoff team? Thoughts on the lithuanian JV? Does this make amir johnson expendable now that they have resigned Gray? lastly, keep an eye out on Andrew Wiggins; dude is gonna be a beast

    • Steve Kyler

      What do you think of the Raps moves so far?
      — They are not done yet, but so far so good.

      Playoff team?
      — Maybe. Hard to tell what Atlanta and Orlando are going to look like, so if they fall out of the middle that opens two spots in the East.

      Thoughts on the lithuanian JV?
      — Big Jonas fan. He is a great pick and roll player and Kyle Lowry is going to make the transition very easy for him. Add Terrence Ross and all of a sudden the Raptors are a scrappy young team.

      Does this make amir johnson expendable now that they have resigned Gray?
      — Big Gravy?… really? No. Aaron is a nice player he make Solomon Albi expendable, but Amir is a much better player than Aaron.

      lastly, keep an eye out on Andrew Wiggins; dude is gonna be a beast
      — if you say so, but I’ll tell you in my talks with NBA executives this week in Orlando not one of them mentioned the name Andrew Wiggins to me.

  2. jw

    Is Toronto stuck paying Fields that huge salary?

    • Steve Kyler

      $5 million this year and $5.2 next year is huge salary? That is not even the NBA average.

      I have yet to meet a NBA executive thats at all concerned with whats on their roster in three years. If Joe Johnson proved anything, its that every contract in the NBA can be traded.

      Total value of the deal is being overstated. He’ll consume a little more cap space, but what they are actually paying him? Its not a bad deal at all until the third year and then its an ending contract at the trade deadline that clears a ton.

  3. jw

    I’ve heard good arguments for both sides, NYK overpaid and cap / NYK filled a need and good value, of the Camby deal.
    Your opinion?

    • Steve Kyler

      Cost of tea in China… you don’t get quality veterans on a minimum deals and the Knicks traded things they won’t use for ones they will. Smart moves to upgrade the overall talent level of the team.

  4. quincy

    Will dumars be released if pistons don’t make playoff(likely) this season or is he too much legend in this city?

    • Steve Kyler

      I have been told that Joe’s long-term future is no longer as secure as it was under the Davidsons. He has more checks and balances in place and has more oversight of what he is doing. Not sure he has to make the playoffs to keep his job, but his team has to play hard. The guys he has invested in have to deliver wins.

      The playoffs are a by-product of getting better as a team. I think that has to happen, but if the Pistons choke but limp into the post-season as the 8th seed. I am not sure that secures Joe. The team has to show promise.

  5. ted

    There is rumor that blazers go after mcgee?Do they offer him max too?Doubt nuggets match.

    • Steve Kyler

      Offer McGee max would be foolish on a monumental level. Things are progressing on the new deal front in Denver. I think the Nuggets get a deal done.

  6. zoe

    Did you miss this madness last year?

    • Steve Kyler

      No… enjoyed a summer with the family and learning about the intricacies of the BRI split and the virtues of Decertification.

  7. Kings fan

    Would detroit agree daye for 1round pick(lottery protected 2013,2014 and non protected in 2015).He could explode if given right chance?

    • Steve Kyler

      You are alone in this assessment. Austin is a friend of mine and I pull for him in almost every situation, but I am not sure NBA teams view him as a NBA player.

      I sat with some executives in Orlando and they absolutely crushed Austin. There is a reason Kyle Singler got a long-term deal.

  8. kanter

    Drummond gave me a lesson.Should I be WORRIED?

    • Steve Kyler

      I asked a Western Conference executive to compare Enes to other players… I went Zaza Pachullia… the exec said, “No, not nearly tough or nasty enough.”

      Enes is a service backup center for 10 years in the NBA. I wouldn’t expect more than that.

  9. John

    What are utah’s plans with millsap and big al?

    • Steve Kyler

      Play them. They would do trades if they right offers presented themselves, but neither Enes or Derrick Favors are ready to start on a team trying to win anything. Utah wants to be a Playoff team. You need veteran guys to do that.

  10. leslie

    Why toronto didn’t remove offer sheet given to fields?Their target was to not allow nash to came to nyk and they accomplished that.Giving 18 mil to landry is very stupid.Is this the same old jerry colangelo?

    • Steve Kyler

      “Bryan Colangelo” says Landry was their guy regardless of Nash. I believe that. Not saying I agree with that. You are acting like Toronto gave Landry $18 million today… its over 3 years.

      They wanted an upgrade at Small Forward, they viewed Landry as a glue guy that can make things come together. We’ll see how bad it turns out.

  11. Jason M

    Have you heard of any trades free agents Memphis Grizzlies might be looking at to improve there bench scoring? And what do you think of the Jerryd Bayless signing?

    • Steve Kyler

      No.

      Memphis did a few small thing… They re-signed Maresse Speights. Darrel Authur. They have a deal with Jerryd Bayless. Still talking with Jodie Meeks… so there is stuff. Just nothing trade related.

      I am not sure Hamed Haddadi is coming back, there are teams interested that would a sign and trade, so we’ll see.

  12. Alex M.

    With cap space and hopefully a couple of draft picks can this be a pretty quick rebuild for the Magic??

    • Steve Kyler

      maybe. Gotta dump the trash contracts that don;t work for them. But maybe.

  13. Wil

    Hi Steve, I am surprised by the lack of interest in Kaman and Felton, both solid players who may thrive in the right setting and probably won’t cost too much to acquire. With all the ridiculous contracts being offered, why aren’t teams more aggressive in making a move for these two and where do you would be the best landing spots for both given the current climate? Thanks.

    • Steve Kyler

      Kaman did a deal with Dallas for one year… and Raymond flamed out terribly in Portland, so his camp is being very choosey about where he lands. He can’t afford to flame out again.

  14. Alex M.

    Does O’Quinn have a shot at making the Magic roster on opening day? I know we have like 14 power forwards but dude plays his ass off every play. I like Wayns also.

    • Steve Kyler

      Maybe. They like him, but thats a very crowded situation with KOQ, Andrew Nicholson and Big Baby.

      I expect Orlando to move Earl Clark at some point, so thats one less guy. KOQ is exactly what he’s going to be. He’ll get a little better as he learns the NBA pace and process, but Nicholson has much more upside as a player.

      The Magic have not offered him a contract yet, so there is that.

  15. miller31

    lastly mr k. seems like a player like howard is hard 2 deal right?when will this be over…just wondering would magic like hibbert 4 d12? i know maybe just maybe dreaming a bit lol thanks again …

    • Steve Kyler

      Welcome in everyone… Orlando Summer League is a wrap for me… a little laundry and repacking, then off to Vegas. Lots to get to, so lets hammer them out. As a reminder. I really do not spend a lot of time “evaluating” questions – I’d rather just answer as many as I can. I bounce around the list a little so don’t take offense if I don’t get your question. There are more than 100 questions in the system now, and we’re just getting started.

      Indiana can’t trade Roy Hibbert until January of 2013, so its not an option. Equally most teams want nothing to do with Howard unless they have a real shot at keeping him and he’s closed off so many options heading to Indiana is absolutely not one of them.

  16. The Man

    Aldrige report that pistons and bobcats are intrested in swooping either t.thomas or charlie v for blatche.As a wizards fan I would accept trade for charlie without thinking but would detroit ask for first rounder like charlotte or just them two without exchanging picks.I would give them 2nd round.

    • Steve Kyler

      Trash for Trash… none of those guys matter anymore, so swapping bad contracts generally requires some grease.

      Detroit is trying to dump contract dollars to get to free agency and Washington wants out of Andray Blatche. Not sure there is a deal, but there is interest.

  17. rodney

    Will blazers pursue javale?

    • Steve Kyler

      He is close to a deal in Denver, so unless someone gets silly and right now teams are doing that… I don’t see it.

  18. Jim in CyberSpace

    Is/are the Thunder the only Team in the NBA that doesn’t have an “alternate” jersey?

    Nothing wrong with with that. Keep it simple.

    • Steve Kyler

      Have never looked. The Thunder jersey and Logo were so rushed because of how that came together there has been talk of a “re-imaging” of the Thunder, so an alternate jersey might be in the works fairly soon. The NBA frowns on lots of color, jersey and logo changes because of the retail impact. The NBA makes almost $3 billion a year in merchandising sales, so its something they take very seriously.

  19. Chris

    Like every other diehard NBA fan, I’m sick of the Howard circus. The pieces are there for a deal between Houston, LA, and Orlando if all are reasonable as the three best centers in the game are Howard, Bynum, and Gasol. Wouldn’t Gasol/JRichardson to HOU, Howard/Scola/Patterson to LA, and Bynum/Martin/Lamb/Jones be pretty equitable? Perhaps Orlando could revisit a deal with CLE that sends Turkoglu and cash for the expiring deals of Walton/Casspi.

    • Steve Kyler

      Not going to happen.

      I was told Tuesday night, all of the offers out there are just not workable for Orlando. They do not do what Orlando feels they need to do, so they will keep looking.

      They said this from the jump… they were not doing a bad deal just to gain closure. They are also not doing a deal that does not help them achieve their goals as an organization.

      You may think a deal works… but Orlando does not.

      I was also told over and over during Summer League that the stuff being floated in the media did not “line up” with what was really being talked about.

  20. Brendan

    Do you see the HEAT adding another centre this season? I can see them using the 76ers pick in a trade at the deadline, what kind of value do you think it could bring back?

    • Steve Kyler

      Maybe. But not sure they view that as a problem. They won a championship with the guys they have and Bosh playing five… I’d expect more of that, especially with Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen on the squad.

  21. William

    Steve, the Pacers move this offseason are puzzling. Do you see logic in it? Do you think they could have done better? 3 and 4 year deals for Green and mahinmi who been journeyman at best is puzzling.

    • Steve Kyler

      Yes… the Pacers starting core was set… they needed a solid second unit. Gerald Green signed for about $3.5 million a year. Mahinmi was $4 million. That’s not terrible in terms of coveted players.

      If they can swing something for DJ Augustin after drafting Mile Plumlee and Orlando Johnson, they are about 10 guys deep.

  22. rob

    with all the players the sixers are getting it radio stations in philly are reporting a trade for a star PF may happen. Any news?

    • Steve Kyler

      Not sure I’d call DeJuan Blair a star, but they are trying.

  23. Anthony

    are the spurs gonna get any big men free agents or just get a big man off there summer league team thanks

    • Steve Kyler

      Unlikely. They did their housekeeping deals… Diaw re-signed. Danny Green too. They are value shoppers because of where they are capwise.

  24. Steve H

    How about this move- NO matches the offer for Gordon, and then trades him to INDY for Granger? This looks like a no brainer to me. The Hornets get a high value player for their disgruntled SG, and the Pacers fill an obvious need and relieve their logjam at SF w/ George and Granger. As a bonus, both clubs land a hometown hero. Win/win?

    • Steve Kyler

      Can’t match and trade. If the Hornets match they can not trade Eric until January 15th and then he’d have to agree to the deal for the first year of the contract.

      On the flip side the Pacers view Danny as a corner stone guy. They are building around what they have not trading pieces away.

  25. davide

    any news about nic batum and the wolves?

    • Steve Kyler

      Nope. Portland drew the line in the sand saying they will match.

  26. Scott

    Is there anything else going on with the Clippers in free agency right now or are they done? Also do they plan on hiring a GM?

    • Steve Kyler

      Team president Andy Roeser has been doing the work this off-season, so a GM isn’t necessary as Andy calls the shots.

      They have talked with a few guys. I think ultimately Kiki Vandeweghe makes the most sense… He’s a good face guy. He’ll take the job cheaply.

  27. confused

    Hi Steve, is there anyway for the Nets to back out from the new contract offered to Lopez? Can this be used as leverage with dealing with Orlando at all?

    • Steve Kyler

      Nope. Signed and submitted to the NBA yesterday. Done deal.

  28. Mn-Nelly

    Any buzz about the sign and trade deal involving twolves and blazers?

    • Steve Kyler

      Nope… Portland has said they will not do a sign and trade with Nic Batum.

  29. Joel

    Do you think Orlando offers Maalik Wayns something soon? Should we be worried that he’s going to play for GSW’s Summer League team?

    • Steve Kyler

      He left yesterday for Warriors camp.

      magic did not offer him a roster spot. I am sure they will continue to look at him in Vegas, but its not something they are rushing to do.

  30. Jay

    Can the Knicks get OJ Mayo? I think he would be a great addition, especially since Shumpert is out til at least January and they prefer JR smith coming off the bench?

    • Steve Kyler

      Can they? Sure… OJ just has to say thats where he wants to be and take a deal for less money than he’d get anywhere else.

      I don’t see it. OJ wants a payday and he’ll get it in the next couple of days as guys start falling into place.

  31. rocketsfan

    Are the rockets serious player in the D12 saga or is it all talk? If they are who or what will we give up?

    • Steve Kyler

      Yes they are serious… what will they give up? as little as they have to to make a deal because they know the key to keeping Howard is keeping as much of their assets as possible so they can compete.

      They won’t do a bunch of Orlando garbage and then watch Howard walk.

  32. Knicksfan84

    Arent the Knicks setting themselves up rather nicely in 3 seasons to completely overhaul the roster with the amount of expired contracts they’ll have available to trade off?

    • Steve Kyler

      Sure… but they got older and slower and they are tied to some pretty nasty contracts if things go badly… but thats what the Knicks have always done. if it works they are very good, but they are betting on some pretty old and used guys to make this work.

  33. Ron

    Now that Brooklyn is out of the Howard sweepstakes, where is his most likely destination?

  34. Alex

    Hi Steve,
    where do you see Grant Hill end up? Any chance he stays in Phoenix?

    • Steve Kyler

      Unlikely Phoenix… they are moving in a new direction.

      New York, Miami and and LA are real possibilities.

  35. darrell

    Lakers rockets magic. Will this trade ever happpen. And please tell me morey is not taking bake j ricj turk and duhon

    • Steve Kyler

      Nope.

      That why Houston doesn;t have one of the names mentioned. They won’t take back the luggage and neither will the Lakers.

  36. Jason

    I don’t understand why A. Jamison hasn’t been linked more to the Lakers. Seems like the stretch 4 they want/need. Is this a money issue or is something else going on?

    • Steve Kyler

      He has… but others offering more money.

  37. peter

    Howard to the kninks, any chance

    • Steve Kyler

      Nope… they have expressed almost zero interest. They have the guys they want and they are adding around them.

  38. Cochran Van Ramstein

    Do you think the Wolves will ultimately get Nicholas Batum?

  39. Benito

    Fran finally coming over and signing with the Magic?

    • Steve Kyler

      Doubtful. Not sure a 30 year old rookie power forward fits when you drafted two power forwards and owe another $20 million.

  40. Angie

    Hi Steve. Do you know why Ish is not playing for Orlando’s Summer League Team? I would love to see him play. Also, Wayns is very good hopefully we can keep him.

    • Steve Kyler

      He got a better offer from Houston who offered a real shot at a roster spot.

      Wayns was on a flight last night to the Warriors camp. He did not get an offer from Orlando.

  41. Kyle

    Why dont the chicago bulls just start joakim noah at PF and omer asik at C. That would be the best starting defensive frontcourt in the nba.

    • Steve Kyler

      Because Joakim is a center.

      He’s not skilled enough to play the four spot.

  42. Dylan

    Do you expect Jose Calderon to be traded? If so, what do you expect in return? Colangelo recently said that Jose is upset with the Lowry trade

    • Steve Kyler

      Yes. Actually Colangelo said Jose was not “thrilled” about the trade. But they have told him throughout this process that they were looking to upgrade.

      I’d expect a trade.

  43. chad

    Why did Orlando keep Reddick? They already have too much salary and his could have been cut. If they keep J-Rich, he isn’t needed. If a trade goes down, they’re more than likely going youth and he doesn’t make sense. As soon as Nelson opted out, I would have waived goodbye to him and Reddick.

    • Steve Kyler

      Ending contract and an asset. The Magic were not going to be salary cap players this year and JJ can play. He’s a hard worker and actually fit the kind of player the Magic want on the roster.

  44. Marcus M.

    Say the Knicks and Bulls match both offer sheets the Rockets gave Lin and Asik…what direction does Houston go?

    • Steve Kyler

      Back to the pond and try and do deals with Courtney Lee and Aaron Brooks, and then see what trades surface.

      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.