NBA Rumors Chat With Steve Kyler 9/13/12

HOOPSWORLD Publisher Steve Kyler will hold his weekly chat at 10:00am EST this week. Drop in your questions regarding NBA trades, the NBA Draft, roster moves or questions about your team.

  1. Deven

    Hey Steve. Any chance Chris Paul gets traded before the deadline or will the Clippers keep him past it?

    • Steve Kyler

      Welcome in everyone. Hard to believe Training Camps open in roughly 17 days… most teams have their guys in town and working out at their facilities, so things will start happening pretty soon… lots to get to, so lets get after it.

      Highly unlikely… Chris is very happy with his situation and his team. He has everything he wants. Much like Deron Williams did last year there is no financial incentive for Chris to extend. That concept goes away in the new CBA for star level players. Chris has given the Clips all kinds of assurances that he is happy and that staying long-term is something he’d be open to doing.

      Neither side can promise anything, but the Clips are pretty sure Chris is staying long term… now anything could happen between now and July, but the smart money says CP3 is staying with the Clippers and the only reason thats not done know is he can make $40 million more guaranteed dollars waiting until July.

  2. Deven

    Other than Boston, who else can compete with the Miami Heat this season?

    • Steve Kyler

      I think the Knicks, the Nets and the Bulls when healthy… the Pacers if they can grow up and become more consistent are formidable.

      Miami is the best team in the East, but they are not unbeatable. I worry about the health of the HEAT… LeBron’s got some mileage on him between the role he played last year and the Olympics… Wade broke down last year.

      The HEAT are the favorites, but they are far from a lock to win the East.

  3. Deven

    Will their ever be another brother-sister duo to enter the hall of fame one day? (Referring to Reggie and Cheryl Miller)

    • Steve Kyler

      Doubtful on that simply because I am not aware of another brother sister tandem thats any good… There are lots of brother tandems, but brother sister… I am not aware of any on the horizon.

  4. Deven

    What are Ginóbili’s plans next offseason? He’s a free agent, right?

    • Steve Kyler

      I am not aware of Manu announcing any “plans”. Keep in mind this is his final year with the Spurs and he’ll turn 36 next summer, so how much does he have left and whats the price on that?

      It would not surprise me to see a contract extension for Manu… the Spurs just did a three-year $30 million deal for Tim Duncan who is 36 now… so is two or three more years for Manu good basketball and business? I think so.

  5. Roger

    Don’t know why but I always got to ask you a question. Which team and why would you give the nod. Team 1: PG Gary Payton, SG Joe Dumars, SF Ron Artest, PF Dennis Rodman, C Ben Wallace. Team 2: PG Allen Iverson, SG Kobe Bryant, SF Tracy McGrady, PF Dirk Nowitzki, C Shaquille O’neal. One team plays great defense, the other scores with ease. We have seen each players prime so who would come out on top?

    • Steve Kyler

      Team 2 is a far better offensive team… at the end of the day we talk a lot about defense, but the truth is score is kept from made baskets and the 2nd team can flat out score. I also think the 2nd team is being radically under estimated on its defensive ability.

      I think the thing you did not say is where are we talking… if you are talking in the primes of their career… Iverson was one of the best steals guys in the league… Kobe was a lock down defender and Shaq was one of the top shot blocking and rebounding big men ever.

      For my money team 2 without a question.

  6. Shaun

    Barbosa back on the Suns? Is there any room?

    • Steve Kyler

      The Suns have 13 guys on the roster and roughly $50 million in cap commits, so sure its possible… not sure its likely.

  7. Shaullenny

    Hi, what do you think about the barbosa to lakers rumors, he’d be there backup PG
    Then lakers waive goudelock, morris, reeves nelson, greg somogyi
    how about it?

    • Steve Kyler

      I know the Lakers would like to have LB, I am not sure situationally its what he wants. All through this is camp has said he won’t take a one-year deal and he won’t take the NBA minimum… if that is genuinely where his head is at, the Lakers won’t work.

  8. Kevin Love

    Hi Steve. So my guy D-Rose and I want to build the next superteam in Chicago. A.) Which superstar is joining us? B.) How do I get Minnesota to trade me to the Bulls?

    • Steve Kyler

      Kevin Love has ZERO leverage to force a trade until 2014 at the earliest. I think the talk of KLove being unhappy in Minnesota is way OVERSTATED…

      There is almost no doubt that in order for the Wolves to keep Kevin beyond his current deal the team is going to have to be competitive, but to talk about Kevin Love being anywhere but Minnesota for the foreseeable future is crazy.

      The Wolves won’t deal him. He’d have to go toxic on a Dwight Howard level and I don’t think thats something he will do.

  9. jatt

    How pissed off kobe would be if the Lakers trade Pau before deadline because recently he was quite happy that his buddy Pau didn’t get traded.

    • Steve Kyler

      I don’t think you are asking the complete question… what do the Lakers get back for Pau? Kobe wants to win two more championships. If trading Pau returns players that make that happen I don’t think he’d be upset at all… Kobe would step on your Mother get another ring.

      Now if you are suggesting the Lakers simply dump Pau for money reasons… thats when Kobe gets upset. Given what the Lakers have invested in this team, I don’t see them making a money move unless the wheels come off.

  10. LA in LA

    If the NBA asked your opinion of how many teams that they should contract and you couldn’t say zero, how many would you tell them? Feel free to say which ones.

    • Steve Kyler

      Here is the thing… the NBA is a business first. Contraction means less money. It might be a better product on the floor, but just like shortening the schedule… it means less money. Less money means lower salaries, … no one is signing off on that. Including me.

      30 teams player 82 games… there are two teams per game, so we’re talking 1230 games per season. Dropping even one team impacts that number tremendously… drop two and the landscape changes even more.

      Contraction is never going to happen… there is too much money at stake. So while you want me to name teams, it is never going to happen.

  11. MATT BO

    With all of the hype surrounding the howard/gasol combo, I was wondering, Do you rate it better than the Robinson/Duncan pairing?

    • Steve Kyler

      Radically different skill sets of the players… both were far more developed when the tandem came together. I also think you have to point out that unlike Timmy and David… Pay/Howard is likely second and third options to Kobe.

      Timmy and David were basically #1 and #2.

      I think both guys help each other… Imagine if Dwight can learn some of the pick and pop offense Pau is so masterful at. I wouldn’t say better in terms of the pairing, but its going to be tough to defend especially given the lack of impact bigs in the game today

  12. SatBchMagicer

    Hi Steve, I read somewhere recently that J.J. Redick was ‘lead’ for helping conduct ‘informal’ workouts with some of his Magic teammates, any news of who else is ‘working out on their own with him?

    • Steve Kyler

      This is always overstated… If you stopped in on every team facility in the league you’d find more than 85% of the team is in town playing pickup. Most GMs ask their guys to start reporting the first week of September, just to get their housing and routine situated before camp.

      As for the Magic I heard it was basically everyone… in fact I am not aware of anyone who wasn’t there. I have not been over there, so I can’t confirm that, but I heard it was a full gym.

  13. SatBchMagicer

    Steve, with training camp opening in about two weeks, any insight as to the
    kind of Head Coach we fans are likely to see in Jacque Vaughan? Could you also do a little compare/contrast of him and SVG(when SVG first became head coach at MIA- not as he was with ORL past 5 seasons)?

    • Steve Kyler

      He is the exact opposite of Stan Van Gundy… I would liken him more to a Monty Williams-type personality. He super smart. An attention to detail guy and very personable. Very humble. Not sure how much play this got, but Jacque used to write poetry. He is an avid reader and has a very high IQ. You won’t have to dumb things down for Jacque… he’s super smart.

  14. T.J. Wilson

    What it do!!!!!!!……Skip Bayless criticized Kevin Durant for working out with Lebron James over the summer because now they are considered rivals because of their finals run. Whats your opinion on that?

    • Steve Kyler

      That Skip Bayless is a the last guy I care to hear anything from or about.

      Seriously… he does not matter in my world at all. I am fairly sure he does not matter in LeBron or KD’s world. Really surprised he commented on it, but thats the power of ESPN… uninformed opinions are considered valid because it comes from their mouth.

  15. Adam

    Do you see Sam Young making the Pacers final roster? Could be real value in the playoffs guarding potentially Melo, LeBron, Pierce, J Johnson. Also are you surprised DJ White hasn’t got at least a camp invite from his hometown Pacers?

    • Steve Kyler

      Here is the thing on camp invites… a lot of them get turned down. Your agent’s job is to find you situations were you can get paid to play. If the team has three or four bigs already and won’t at least hint that you’ll play most guys will pass. Players want to play. They don’t like to sit or worse yet not dress. That is a career killer.

      Its like the Lakers. They have almost no minutes to offer someone and they have no money they will guarantee. Your next deal is based off of the deal you take this year. If you take the minimum and don’t play, what are you gonna get next year?

      For someone like DJ he has to go somewhere he can play or he’ll be out of the league.

      As for Sam… the Pacers have roughly 13 guaranteed deals, so there are two roster spots open. I think Sam can make the team, but I think he’ll have to prove that in camp.

  16. kobegirl1393

    what does non-guaranteed contract mean?the player who signs non-guaranteed contract will be paid by the team in which situation?

    • Steve Kyler

      It means the entire deal is not guaranteed to be paid. Most of those deals are unique… meaning its not like their is a boiler plate that ever team uses. It varies from team to team. Take Malik Wayns, his deal is a two-year deal, $60,000 is guaranteed. Meaning if the 76ers cut him, he’ll make $60K.

      Most teams use partial guarantees to entice guys to come to them versus other situations. On January 10th all contracts are guaranteed for the balance of the year… so between now and the 10th, players with non-guaranteed deals are owed only the amount specified in their deal.

      There are a large number of players like Lakers big man Robert Sacre who are not guaranteed anything. He’ll get paid his bi-monthly check for every game they keep him, but they can cut him at any time and owe him nothing going forward and nothing against the cap. Now if he sticks on the roster until January 10th, his deal becomes fully guaranteed.

      If you look at the team salary pages (http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-team-salaries-2012-13/) for HOOPSWORLD you see notations on whats is guaranteed to guys. in the last column of the table. It varies greatly from guy to guy.

  17. Adam Greene

    What are the chances that the Magic move more of the unwanted veteran pieces this season? It is possible that the opening day roster will be identical to the roster in April?

    • Steve Kyler

      I think once the magic find their groove with their young guys a lot of the veterans will get shopped… the name of the game is rebuild and to do that quickly… I don’t see the Magic wasting a year of development and rebuild time being mediocre. Having vets will help Jacque Vaughn gets situated… it will help the young guys learn the league.

      I don’t think the opening day roster looks anything like the what the roster looks like in April.

  18. Benny Da Bull

    Who is the ideal star to pair with DRose? I see Harden as a great option, playmaker than can handle and shoot, good size. If OKC cant manage a resigning prior to the deadline do you see them entertaining a trade?

    • Steve Kyler

      The Thunder and Harden are working on a deal… its about $$$ not desire… they both want a new deal together that generally works itself out.

      I don’t see James harden hitting Free Agency. The next stars for DRose are on the team. They need Taj and Jimmy Butler to emerge as real players. Marquis Teague could be a very good addition too… but the Bulls have their guys… they just need to get and stay healthy.

  19. JJBB

    Every NBA season there are a few players that seem to come out of nowhere to become important cogs to their teams success. Certainly Jeremy Lin would be an extreme example from last year. This year look for pg/sg Alexey Shved[rationale:familiarity with Kirilenko,Rubio inj.,Roy potential inj./minute limitations]to have a good chance.Another would be Tristan Thompson[underwhelming rookie season,great work ethic,playing with a great young pg with good chemistry,little competition at PF slot].You might even want to flip a coin on JaVale McGee.Who are your suprise impact players?

    • Steve Kyler

      I do not think Alexy is going to be an impact player… role player sure. Impact, no. I do think Tristan has more than he showed, but again not sold he’ll be an impact guy.

      Here are some of the guys I think will be very good… I think Perry Jones III will be good off the bench for the Thunder. I think Austin Rivers and Damian Lillard are going to be very good once they find their way. I think Rashard Lewis, if he can stay healthy will be a huge addition for the HEAT simply because he can play the three and the four for Miami. I think people have forgotten how good Jeff Green can be. I am optimistic on Beasley in Phoenix… I think OJ Mayo could be very good in Dallas.

      There are dozens more, but those are the guys I am looking at.

  20. piston

    Is there any true in rumor da pistons team with 5 sf is intrested in sf terrence williams?Why would they even be intrested?

    • Steve Kyler

      Because they don’t have a Small Forward they like… they have a lot of guys under contract but none that they want to build around.

      I also think your hearing about a camp invite for TWill not a long term deal. I think the real question is why would TWill go somewhere he’d be an astronomical long-shot to make the team.

  21. vic

    are rockets actively shopping any of their forwards or they are content with what they have

    • Steve Kyler

      “Actively Shopping” — no. This is who the Rockets are bringing to camp. From here they will decide who they are keeping and ultimately playing and from there they will try and trade things they don’t want.

      The Shopping phase is over… this is who they have. Beyond cutting some guys and maybe trading of unused parts I don;t expect anything ground breaking from the Rockets.

  22. Jeremiah Davi'

    Is it smart for the Lakers NOT to keep Matt Barnes?

    • Steve Kyler

      He is an 8th-9th man at best… I think Matt’s value has always be overstated. I like him. I think he helps his team, but if you have him or you don’t have him not sure it matters.

      Fans like him, but there are lots of guys that can fill his role.

  23. John

    What are odds for cousins and monroe to signs max deal next summer

    • Steve Kyler

      Given what Kris Humphries, Brook Lopez and Roy Hibbert got… I’d suspect their agents believe that. I don’t think either have shown enough to say they are the franchise guy. I think they would both have to show massive improvement this year. It is more likely that they hit restricted free agency and get whatever offers they receive matched, much like Hibbert.

  24. Sweet Dee

    The teams I have missing the playoffs this year in the East is 9) Milwaukee 10) Toronto 11) Washington 12) Cleveland 13) Detroit 14) Magic 15) Charlotte. In your opinion, which team am I overvaluing the most and which team am I undervaluing the most?

    • Steve Kyler

      So you are putting:
      Boston
      New York
      Philadelphia
      Brooklyn
      Chicago
      Indiana
      Miami
      Atlanta

      In… I am not sold on Atlanta or Brooklyn. I think Toronto and Milwaukee and Cleveland could win as many games as both of those teams. I also don’t think Orlando is going to be the 2nd worst team in the East.

  25. HRNT

    I feel like Robin Lopez is a much better fit in the New Orleans slow paced offense than Phoenix’s run and gun style. Do you think he has a higher ceiling with his new team, or have we seen all we will out of RoLo? THanks for answering.

    • Steve Kyler

      I am not sold that Robin is anything more than a journey-man type Big… lots of guys do what he does. I agree that he’s in a better fitting situation, but I am not sold he is going to be much more than he is… a guy capable of giving you 8 points and 8 rebounds if you give him enough minutes.

      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.