NBA Rumors Chat With Steve Kyler 8/23/12

1. Dwight Howard

   When will my back be 100%? Can you give me expected time?

   • Steve Kyler

     Welcome in everyone… hope the week has been good to you. Lots to get to, so lets get after it…

     Everyone continues to say no firm timetable, but the general belief is Dwight will be back playing in maybe December. As for a 100%, he may never be a 100%, back surgery is no joke. Especially considering Dwight’s game is jumping and taking a pounding in the paint.

     I talked to him briefly about it earlier this month and he said things were progressing, but there was no timetable set on court work.

2. KGuide

   Now that the C’s have officially brought back Jeff Green, have the completed their offseason? If not, who else do you see them picking up? Also at this point in their respective careers do you feel Jason Terry is better than Ray Allen? I think Celtics got better. They essentially do the same things except Terry is a willing 6th man and playmaker.

   • Steve Kyler

     I think you’ll see some guys brought in Training Camp but as things stand today they have 16 guys under contract… Dionte Christmas, Kris Joseph and Jamar Smith are non-guaranteed, so they could jump one or two of them, but thats not likely.

     As for Terry and Ray Allen… Ray is a lock Hall-of-Famer… Terry has been a career sixth man that might fit how they want to play a little better, but thats not on Ray.

     I do think the C’s got better, mainly because they got younger.

3. Brian

   Hi Steve,
   Magic has 16 on the roster now, do you expect another trade before the season ?
   WHo will be out ?Al Harrington, McRoberts, JJ Redick, BB David and A.Affalo?

   • Steve Kyler

     I think they’d like to make a trade… not sure they can pull it off.

     Of the bunch mentioned if they could move McRoberts I am sure they’d consider it, he was not a player that targeted. I think they want Al Harrington around to start the season. I think he’s a trade candidate after the rookies find their way a little. Affalo I doubt is moved at all… they really like him. I don’t see anyone taking Big Baby. JJ is a possibility too, but it would have to return something.

     The guy they want to move is Quentin Richardson. That’s who I have heard they are shopping.

4. JJ of Blueberry Bay

   Do the I’s have it,more playing time that is?
   Ibaka and Ilyasova re-upped with their original teams over the summer yet both received only 27 mpg playing time last year despite their advanced skill sets.One would logically assume playing time would have come up in contract negotiations.Do you anticipate both will receive a minimum of 32 mpg this year?

   • Steve Kyler

     Most teams don’t promise playing time… maybe starter/non-starter, but minutes are rationed out by coaches not GMs… so new deals only lock in money… rarely do new deals lock in minutes on the floor.

     Guys are paid their value, how the coaches use them is up to the coaches. I would expect more simply because those guys are really good. I wouldn’t expect that just because they signed new deals that it changes how they are used just because they are paid more.

     I pay you a salary to show up for work… what you do when you are there is governed by the coach. Those guys got tons of cash to stay where they are, thats all that money was.

5. Brian

   DO you think Hardens will be traded? if so, who say no with this trade;
   Orlando gets Hardens, P.Jones III
   OKC gets JJ Redick, A.Nicholson, Orlando 2013 and 2015 first gound, and LA Laker future pick(from Howard trade).

   • Steve Kyler

     No I do not think Harden will be traded. There is zero reason for it.

     The Thunder control the Harden situation and he does not want to leave what he has. They’ll work out a new deal either by way of extension or by way of matching an offer sheet next summer.

6. Yannis Athens

   Hello from Greece!!!

   1)Why you think houston is so inactive?

   2)Do you think Mike Brown is suitable fot the Lakers coach position? I think Nash is going to help him a lot

   3)What about Clippers? I think they are overestimated.

   Thanx a lot

   • Steve Kyler

     1)Why you think houston is so inactive?
     —> They have been extremely active… they also have 20 guys on their roster, they have no room to add anyone else.

     2)Do you think Mike Brown is suitable for the Lakers coach position? I think Nash is going to help him a lot
     —> I agree, and joked with Mike about it during Summer League. Mike’s problem is he is too nice a guy. Phil Jackson for the most part was an unbearable personality. He didn’t care if you liked him and most of the time he didn’t care if you were accommodated. Mike might not be enough of a jerk to control that locker room. That was a big part of the problem last year.

     3)What about Clippers? I think they are overestimated.
     —> When you have Chris Paul you are in the discussion. Add Blake Griffin and the cast around him. They are going to be very good.

7. Joe

   Hey steve,
   As of now do the heat have any interest in acquiring andray blatche? Hes 25 toxic but has talent. In a organization like the heat theres really no big time risk…perhaps he can be molded into a better player being around more mature pros. Also by adding ray allen and rashard lewis…how do you think we fair against the new look lakers? Our only real competition in my opinion lol

   • Steve Kyler

     It was talked about and considered, but nothing has come from it. He’s been in Houston with John Lucas working, but I am not sure many teams are interested in Blatche on a guaranteed deal. He is a huge risk.

8. PoLaK82

   What does OKC need to do to establish a stronger run for a Championship this year and next since Lakers/Miami made great strides with their rosters … ?? Do they amnesty Perkins, sign and start Harden and play Ibaka at C??

   • Steve Kyler

     The Amnesty window is closed… so we can revisit that in July.

     As for making strides… they get better because they get older and more experienced… I think the return of Eric Maynor will be huge. I think Perry Jones – if healthy – is a steal.

     Not at all worried about the Thunder.

9. B

   Any speculation on anything the Kings may do before the trade deadline? And what are the odds the Kings are still in Sac after this season?

   • Steve Kyler

     There are a few names everyone talks about with regards to the kings… Tyreke Evans, I think they deal him at the deadline… Jimmer Fredette. I think he’ll get training camp and pre-season to show the club he wants to be a player or they’ll look to deal him and there is always Francisco Garcia’s ending deal. If he could return something of value I think they’d move him.

     As for where are the Kings going forward… not a lot of VIABLE options. The Lakers Time Warner TV deal all but kills Anaheim… The NBA is not going to allow them to move to a smaller TV market, not in a down economy. Seattle is possible, but they’d have to close the arena deal there first before its a serious candidate.

     I know the Maloofs would love Vegas, but there isn’t a NBA class venue there and there are way too many questions about a sustainable business model or season ticket base because of everything else going on in Vegas. The NBA loves Vegas in the summer, not sold they want to live there.

10. willie

    hi why doesnt rob work out greg oden and see if he can be signed cheap and johnny flynn also both are young with alot of upside

    • Steve Kyler

      Assuming you mean Rob Hennigan… because neither of those guys fit what they are trying to build. I could see them taking a flyer on Greg mid-season if he is unsigned, but they don’t want to win games. They also have 16 guys on the roster now. Jonny’s agent isn’t going to send him somewhere he won’t be given a real chance to stick unless they guarantee his deal.

11. Jim in Cyber Space

    300 bucks for a set of LBJ sneakers???

    Even in an upper middle class environment…it’s difficult for any right minded person to justify it..you gonna flop down three Ben Franklin’s for 12 yr Jr’s sneakers?

    It’s wanton waste. What demographic is buying this shoe?

    • Steve Kyler

      That shoe isn’t being targeted to you… there are two versions of the shoe… the Nike+ tech version of shoe thats going to retail for about $290 in a very limited run. Then there is the commercial version of the shoe which will drop at about $180 a pair.

      The Nike+ technology is a new concept that all shoe companies are running with that have senors in the shoe that allow you to measure how high you jump, how fast you run and use that data to build training programs, to measure yourself against others and to chart your improvement as a player.

      The tech is pretty cool, because you attach a senor to your iDevice and it records data from your shoes into an app. Thats data can be used in a dozens of new ways including in the video game world. There has been some talk that this kind of stuff will make its way in the NBA during actual games. I have heard we might see it during the All-Star game in Houston.

      Imagine if you could see if a player was dogging it. You could see his performance on court based on his previous game or what his numbers were at the start of the game. Imagine what that could do for coaches and substitutions? An assistant coach looks at the iPad and says Dwyane Wade is jumping 20% less or his foot speed has decreased 20%… time to take him out. That amazing fast break… how fast was he running… How high was that Gerald Green 360 dunk?

      I think too many people have heard that LeBron shoe is gonna be $300 and never bothered to check the facts on why.

12. Christian

    Hi Steve and Hallo from Germany, wonderful summer out here, hope you enjoy yours oversea too.

    I have two questions regarding the TPE.

    First of all it´s usage. Am i right, that the TPE guarantees, that signing a player within it´s restrictions doesn´t affect the cap space regarding tax limit?
    Is it still available after the offseason?

    For Example: Magic own a 17 million somewhat dollar TPE from the Howard trade. Is this one still available going into next offseason? If not i guess it is lost by the time of trade deadline. But then why were the Lakers able to use the Odom TPE to get Nash in a Sign&Trade?

    My englisch was once better, sorry for that . You guys are doing a awesome job over there. Thanks for every single article, i can get some knowledge from!

    • Steve Kyler

      Hallo und vielen Dank für die Frage….

      No, if a team uses their TPE they are taking on salary that is both taxed and counts towards the salary cap… You have to think about every salary on the roster as a slot.. when you make trades you are filling those slots… TPE’s are created when you do not fill a slot… its like saving a chair in a restaurant, you can use it later.

      TPE expire one year from when they were issued, so the Magic have one year to use it or it goes away.

13. ROD

    Hey Steve, We all know that Ray and Rondo had issues, but is there anyword on how KG and Pierce get along wth Rondo?

    • Steve Kyler

      I know KG likes Rondo because their both world class jerks… Paul gets along with everyone… Ray had more issues with the Celtics trying to trade him – twice – than he did with Rondo. I think more is being made of the Rondo thing to justify why Ray left, but the truth is they came to Ray at the trade deadline and told him they traded him to Memphis… he felt betrayed and thats when it came apart.

14. John L

    Hey Steve, It has been awhile. What teams do you see as a dark horse to win it all. Also why are my fellow Bulls fans thinking it will be a doomsday season? I think we get 4th seed you?

    • Steve Kyler

      I think the Bulls season depends on when Rose is back to full strength and that may not be this year… I am not ready to say 4th seed… but they are a playoff team as constructed.

      As for dark horse to win it all… not sure I have one, but I like Philly. I like Portland and I like Toronto. Not sure either three are in the Finals, but I think all three will be better than expected.

15. keo

    Kevin Durant or prime t-mac? And why?

    • Steve Kyler

      Durant. He works harder.

      Tracy was always super skilled, but he never liked to work. He did just as much as he was required to do. He never seriously trained in the off-season. He did court work to stay in shape, but he was never as regimented as Kevin, Kobe or even LeBron.

      Tracy had all the talent and skills to be the best player in the game… he just never worked as hard at his craft as others did, even guys with less talent than he had.

16. Paul

    How do you feel about former lottery pick Julian Wright’s chances of getting back into the NBA? He helped win the NBA D-League championship last year w/the Austin Torros when joining the team after the All-Star break & played very well.

    • Steve Kyler

      See the answer above… Julian is talented, but he’s not a hard worker and he is tough to coach. Coach after coach soured on him and when you get that kind of rep its hard to make it back in once you are out.

17. WBS

    Your colleague Macri has been less than impressed by the Laker roster beyond the top four. What is your assessment?

    • Steve Kyler

      I always defer to the CEO… I think the Lakers are fine. I think Antawn Jamison is huge for them. I think Earl Clark and Jordan Hill are solid reserve bigs. Jodie Meeks could start if Kobe goes down and give you 15 to 20 in his sleep. The Lakers bench is fine. Its the starters I am worried about… both Kobe and Gasol had extended Olympic runs… Steve Nash isn’t getting younger and Dwight Howard could be out until December and who knows what kind of shape he’ll be in.

18. peter

    Alot of people r saying the the nets r better than the knicks. Yes they have a better back court but there is no comparison at the 3-4-5. Your thoughts.

    • Steve Kyler

      About the same… I think the Knicks have a little more star power, but the Nets I think are a little deeper… I think they are about the same if healthy… both could win 47 to 55 games this season.

19. Jazzfan

    What do you think of Kanter’s coach in Turkey saying that the Jazz arent using him properly?

    • Steve Kyler

      Not sure Enes has shown anything in the NBA yet to try and “use” him differently… Gotta play the role the team has for you. Enes isn’t a center piece player in the NBA. There are six guys better than him on the roster.

20. LeBron Jim

    G’day mate! Will mike miller be playing for the heat next season?

    • Steve Kyler

      He wants to try, but I ultimately think his body is failing him… Mind is willing, body is not able.

21. yaboii

    Now that OKC signed Ibaka, do the bulls have any shot at harden? would be a great fit

    • Steve Kyler

      No… I think all the Harden talk fails to recognize that the Thunder hold all the cards on him for two more years.

22. MikeM

    Hi Steve…do you think the Spurs take a chance on a guy like Blatche. He doesn’t really fit their culture but they are also known to revive careers. Also, they desperately need some length to help Duncan.

    • Steve Kyler

      That has another situation that looked at Blatche… the Spurs have the roster room, but I am not sure he is someone they have interest in because of the guys they have already. They like Danny Green a lot. They love Kawhi Leonard and you have guys like Tiago Splitter and Boris Diaw that need minutes. Not sure there is a need for a guy like Blatche thats gonna want to play.

      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.