Weekly Mailbag

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. This week, in an effort to change things up a bit, I’ve invited some of the other staff members to join in on the fun. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“Hassan Whiteside seems to me like an annual injury risk, and I’m concerned about his ability to remain on the court for the long-term. What should the Heat do regarding Whiteside after the season? What level of financial commitment should Pat Riley feel comfortable making with Whiteside? What amount should be a deal-breaker as far as Miami is concerned?” — Malcolm

Charlie Adams: Whiteside wouldn’t be the first player in NBA history to get a sizable deal in spite of injury concerns, and big men who can fill up a stat sheet always find a way get paid. If he can put together a similar effort to last year’s breakout campaign over the course of an entire season, you can bet Whiteside will see annual salaries in the $15-20MM range when his current deal expires. In fact, former Suns executive Amin Elhassan wrote for ESPN (Insider link) that Whiteside is in line to earn a contract worth $18.5MM per year. It’s a hefty figure, especially given potential concerns about his durability and character, but I think another season exhibiting the sort of efficiency he put on display in 2014/15 would make it a no-brainer for Pat Riley and company. The Heat will have a hefty chunk of cap space next summer, so they’ll potentially be able to keep their core intact if they like what they see from them this season, and if Whiteside can prove his first go-around with the Heat wasn’t just a flash in the pan, he’ll definitely get paid like an All-Star center.

“What current player’s contract is the best team value in your opinion? Why?” — Shelly

Will Sammon: While a handful of rising stars are locked into very team-friendly deals, I’ll go a bit outside the box on this one. Dirk Nowitzki is set to earn roughly $8.3MM in 2015/16 and $8.7MM in the following year. It’s a similar financial path that Tim Duncan took with the Spurs. Nowitzki didn’t demand fair market value and because of his sacrifice, the Mavs have been able to offer large contracts that they otherwise would not be able to. For his career, Nowitzki has averaged 22.2 PPG and 5.9 RPG while shooting 38.3% from three-point range.

“How viable is the Amerileague? Do you see it having any sort of staying power, or is it doomed to fail? What potential benefit could it have for the NBA if it were to stay around?” — Bobby

Chuck Myron: Given the news this week, I’d be surprised if the Amerileague even tips off, much less lasts. The draft that was supposed to take place Thursday is on hold, and much appears to be in flux. Few organizations, never mind a startup like this, could withstand the revelation that its CEO was using a fake name and is actually an ex-con. Marcus Bass, who’s apparently the Amerileague commissioner now, expressed optimism about the viability of the enterprise to Adi Joseph and Kami Mattioli of The Sporting News, but it doesn’t sound like many people are buying that. Even if the Amerileague didn’t have all of its issues, it would still face an uphill battle to survive. So many minor league ventures come and go. I know a guy who bought a minor league basketball team with a ton of enthusiasm and sold it a year later, after he realized the challenge involved. It’s a tough business.

“Give me one player who can realistically be obtained, who the Knicks should try to acquire this season to help the team going forward.” — Jace

Eddie Scarito: The Knicks’ biggest weakness is at point guard, so that’s definitely the position I’d attempt to upgrade this season if I were team president Phil Jackson. But the first thing to keep in mind is that the franchise is extremely light on tradeable assets, which makes the upper-tier players likely out of the team’s reach. One possible target who could certainly help the Knicks, as well as potentially be available, is Hawks backup point man Dennis Schröder.

Schröder has been compared favorably to a younger Rajon Rondo, who has been mentioned as a potential Knicks target in the past. He’s only 21 years old, and could be under team control through the 2016/17 campaign, provided his team option is exercised for next season. Schröder is still developing, and his outside shot still needs quite a bit of work, but his upside makes him well worth the gamble for New York.

Of course, Atlanta would need to cooperate and be willing to deal the young German, something the franchise has given no indication it would be willing to do at this time. But … Schröder, like any young, talented player, wants to start, something that isn’t currently possible with the hawks thanks to the presence of Jeff Teague. So the possibility does exist that Schröder could push for a deal at some point, especially if Atlanta has a slow start to the regular season, though I’m not sure the Knicks would have enough to offer in return for him without getting a third team involved.

“Which GM or GMs should be the most concerned for their job security this season? Why?” — Steve

Chris Crouse: Based on the recent history of the Kings, one has to be worried about the job status of vice president of basketball operations/GM Vlade Divac. Vivek Ranadive hasn’t been the most patient owner and while the team should be better this year, the playoffs may not be in the cards. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was another shakeup in the front office before next summer. Another candidate would be Rich Cho. The Hornets may have high expectations for this season, but I expect them to be among the bottom-dwellers in the Eastern Conference. If that happens, Michael Jordan will most likely go in a different direction.

That’s all the space that we have for this week. Thanks to all who submitted questions. Please keep them coming and we’ll be back next Saturday with more responses.

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. This week, in an effort to change things up a bit, I’ve invited some of the other staff members to join in on the fun. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“The Suns already tried the multiple point guard lineup and didn’t get good results. Why should I believe that Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe can work together when Goran Dragic and Bledsoe couldn’t? Who is more likely to be dealt if the front office decides to start over–Knight or Bledsoe? Why?” — Larry

Charlie Adams: The Suns played well above expectations with the dual point guard look in 2013/14 so it’s not like they never had success with that kind of lineup. I think the biggest reason they took a step back last year was their less-than-stellar three-point shooting. As a team, they finished just 20th in the league in 2014/15 after finishing eighth in the season prior. Channing Frye‘s departure proved to be a huge blow, but clearly Phoenix has made an effort to bolster its shooting by adding guys like Devin Booker and Mirza Teletovic. Knight can score from downtown, and an improved frontcourt should help with spacing, so I’ll be surprised if the Suns don’t turn out better shooting numbers this year.

Bledsoe and Knight only appeared in 11 games together last season, so it’s a little early to be able to tell how effective the duo will be together. Still, the odds of either one being moved at the deadline don’t strike me as being very high. The Suns moved two prospects and a first-rounder to acquire Knight, and shortly afterward signed him to a five-year, $70MM deal. Bledsoe’s name has come up in trade rumors, but Phoenix’s decision to bring in Tyson Chandler and near-successful pursuit of LaMarcus Aldridge say to me that the team is focused on trying to win now and not interested in entering another rebuild process. Of course, it’ll be easier said than done to compete in the West, but Phoenix might be just a piece or two away from boasting a really dangerous squad. Look for them to be active in free agency next summer when the cap rises and they’ve got money to spend.

“Which NBA team surprises you the most in struggling to land big name free agents?” — Brian

Eddie Scarito: I’ve continually been surprised at the difficulty that Dallas has had in landing upper-tier players via free agency. From all outward appearances the organization is first-rate; the team is located in a major metropolitan area, Dallas has a desirable climate, as well as an active and involved owner in Mark Cuban who isn’t afraid to spend money, and who believes in rewarding players’ loyalty. But the Mavs have missed out on quite a few big name targets that they have set their sights on over the past few years (LaMarcus Aldridge, LeBron, Melo, etc.), which has certainly disappointed the team and its fans, as well as likely cost Dirk Nowitzki a shot at possibly landing another NBA title. Yes, Dallas did sign Wesley Matthews this offseason … but it was a MAJOR overpay for a player coming off such an extremely serious injury. Sure, Matthews is a solid player who can certainly help the team win, but I’d hardly classify his career numbers as being max contract worthy.

“The Sixers have a glut of bigs and still need a point guard. In a proposed trade: The Sixers send Nerlens Noel to the Lakers for Jordan Clarkson….who says no? Why?” — Jay

Will Sammon: This isn’t a bad idea, but it wouldn’t quite work in the way you suggest because of the salary cap, which is a big reason why trades in the league seemingly are never quite this simple. The Lakers would have to throw in at least one other player to make this deal work under the cap. But having said that …

It does make sense for the Sixers to deal Noel, though. Sixers coach Brett Brown recently discussed how challenging it will be for Noel and Jahlil Okafor to share the court because they both basically do the same thing. That said, I don’t expect to see the Sixers make the sort of trade that will help the current product in a way that a team seeking to make the playoffs would. There’s been no indication otherwise. If you recall, though, your idea isn’t far-fetched at all because there were rumors early on in the summer about the Sixers moving Noel to Boston in exchange for Marcus Smart. I think there is a better chance that Noel gets traded when he is closer to the end of his rookie scale contract.

“With the latest word about Joel Embiid giving the Sixers problems with his rehab, the issues with Dario Saric‘s father, and it looking like it will be difficult to get him signed, as well as the failure to acquire/draft an actual NBA-caliber point guard….how long can [GM] Sam Hinkie realistically expect to hold onto his job? Give me one move that he could/should make that would restore my faith in his plan….” — Leo

Chuck Myron: Hinkie has the support of Josh Harris, the primary owner, who’s been on board with the aggressive rebuild from the start. I don’t think Hinkie is in any jeopardy, because they both went into this knowing it would be a long slog. Saric said that he, like the Sixers, wished he could have signed this past summer, when his contract with Turkey’s Anadolu Efes wouldn’t permit him to, and he insists his father doesn’t hold sway. If you believe him, that seems to suggest he’ll sign next summer, which has been the plan all along. I’d also argue that Kendall Marshall, once healthy, will give them more than competent point guard play. Now, Embiid is a different story, and it’s tough to have much optimism about the career of anyone who misses back-to-back years with injury. The concerns about his attitude and conditioning just add to the skepticism about whether he’ll ever pan out, but with Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor already in place, the Sixers don’t really need him to. Chances are strong that Philly ends up with four first-round picks for next year’s draft, and if so, the Sixers could package some of them in a trade for a significant talent. I think that could be the move that restores your faith.

“How do outside executives view Andre Drummond? Do they feel he is a max player? Or is this a case of in Detroit you have to overpay?” — Chip

Chris Crouse: Outside of the Pistons organization, there hasn’t been much chatter about Drummond that’s been put out to the public. Detroit seems adamant about re-signing the big man and its unlikely another team even gets a chance to have negotiations with him, similar to the Khris Middleton‘s situation with the Bucks. If he did get a chance to hit the open market and meet with teams, I believe a rival suitor would offer him the max. Drummond has the potential to be a franchise player and there are few centers in the league that possess that ceiling.

That’s going to put a bow on this week’s column. Thanks to all who sent in their inquiries. Please keep them coming, and we’ll return next Saturday with more responses.

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“What’s with Markieff Morris‘ sudden change of heart regarding Phoenix? Is he for real, or just putting on a show for the media?” — Stu

I’d think it’s a combination of both at this point. Morris most likely realized that rocking the boat publicly is not a great way to boost your perceived value around the league, and it also makes the front office’s job that much more difficult to swing a deal and get anything of value in return for him. I’d also think that getting around his teammates in Phoenix calmed him down a bit, and changed his perspective.

Is everything fine between Morris and the team now? Probably not. But with the Suns better served to hold off trading Morris until at least December 15th, which is the date when most players around the league can be dealt, it’s certainly in both sides’ best interests to remain somewhat cordial with each other. It should be noted that Morris is eligible to be traded immediately, but the franchise will have a much wider pool of players to discuss after December 15th passes. In the end, I do think Morris gets traded at some point this season, but I’d expect Phoenix will perform its proper diligence and not just give Morris away. At least he’s currently saying the right things to the press…for now. That will only serve to help his cause, though I’m not so sure he’ll end up in Detroit with his twin brother when all is said and done.

“Let’s get your preseason predictions for who will be Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Valuable Player. Who do you have?” — Juan

I have to throw out the obligatory caveat that it’s still early, so these will be major guesses, but here goes:

• Coach of the Year: This is a tough one. I’ll go with Jason Kidd of the Bucks. Milwaukee, with the addition of Greg Monroe, looks poised to take a major step forward in the East, and if so, Kidd could take home the award.
• Rookie of the Year: Jahlil Okafor. He’ll likely end up being the focal point of Philly’s offense, which should translate into some decent stats this season.
• Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert. The “Stifle Tower” appears tailor-made to win this award, and if he can avoid a backslide this season, he’ll have a great shot at snagging this honor.
• Most Valuable Player: James Harden. It’s tough to go against LeBron James on this one, but there were arguments made that Harden should have won the award last season, and this year’s Rockets team is superior (on paper) to last year’s squad, which bodes well for Harden’s hardware chances.

“Should the Knicks start Kristaps Porzingis this season?” — Kyle

If he earns it, then absolutely. If not, then the Knicks have themselves a bit of a conundrum. Porzingis certainly has talent, and the more I see of him, the more I like what he can bring to the franchise. The problem for New York is that it has an aging star in Carmelo Anthony, who’s not getting any younger, which adds quite a bit of pressure to win immediately. The young Latvian rookie is still extremely raw, and he needs to take his lumps on an NBA court, not in the D-League or practice, if he is to reach his potential. But throwing him into the fire too soon as a starter could hurt his confidence and development, which is something the team cannot afford.

I’d think the best course of action is for Porzingis to begin the season in the rotation, but have him coming off of the bench. If the season starts going downhill, then throw him into the starting lineup and see what he can do. If the Knicks are winning, then they should stick with what’s working, and if Porzingis shows he can handle the job, then possibly have him start toward the end of the season. It really doesn’t matter if Porzingis is the starter as much as how many minutes he logs this season. I’d say that playing 20+ minutes per night, regardless of whether he’s on the court for the opening tip or seeing duty as a reserve, would be a solid target for him during his rookie campaign.

“Who will be the better NBA player…Emmanuel Mudiay or D’Angelo Russell? Please say Russell!!” — Lyle

I’m guessing that you’re a Lakers fan. … Both players have had mixed preseason results thus far, and Russell has been slowed by a minor injury, so the jury is still most assuredly out for deliberation on this one … and will be for some time. But I won’t shy away from taking a crack at calling this one. Both rookies are extremely talented, and I believe each of them will have successful NBA careers, but now I have to disappoint you and opine that Mudiay will ultimately be the better player in the long run. Sorry about that, but here is my reasoning. …

Mudiay is the superior athlete and physical specimen, and he has barely scratched the surface of his potential. Remember, he barely played last season while over in China due to injury, so he’s way behind the curve as far his development goes. So I think that Russell’s career will have a brighter start, but I put quite a bit of stock in physical tools when trying to predict a player’s career arc, and that edge clearly goes to Mudiay. Don’t get me wrong though, I love Russell as a player, and Lakers fans should be stoked that the team nabbed him in this year’s draft. But I see Mudiay becoming a future All-Star and franchise centerpiece, whereas I think Russell will top out as an above-average point guard who will certainly justify his draft position, but he will be more of a second-star type of player, and not a superstar.

That’s all the space I have for this week. I’d like to thank all those who sent in their inquiries. Please keep them coming, and I’ll be back here next Saturday with more responses.

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“In order to preserve Kobe Bryant‘s minutes in the upcoming season wouldn’t it be wise for the Lakers to seriously consider making Kobe the sixth man? That way Nick Young and D’Angelo Russell can start in the backcourt with Jordan Clarkson at the three, and with this alignment, Kobe and Lou Williams are first off the bench. In addition, Kobe could remain on the floor in the 4th Quarter. I could see Kobe playing in the neighborhood of 25-30 minutes in games 1-50, with the time increasing as the season progresses. Then in games 51-82, Kobe would replace Young in the backcourt and as the sixth man off the bench. I feel with this rotation the Lakers have the best chance to win 42+ games this season. I also would start Brandon Bass over Roy Hibbert at center, and of course put Julius Randle at the power forward position.  This way the Lakers’ attack consists of moving the ball quicker downcourt on breaks and off of defensive rebounds.” — Joseph

The first flaw in your plan that immediately jumps out at me is just how abysmal the Lakers’ defense would be. I mean it would be utterly ghastly. A lineup featuring Russell, Young, Clarkson, Randle, and Bass may not be able to stop anyone’s offense in order to create those fast breaks off of defensive rebounds that you salivated over. In short stretches, perhaps against teams utilizing smaller lineups, it may be passable. But that lineup would make what is shaping up to be another long season in Los Angeles feel even longer if deployed full time.

Beyond that, I don’t see Kobe willingly taking on a sixth man role on what is not shaping up to be a very good team. If the roster was loaded and the team was a potential contender…maybe. But I would hate to be the one tasked with telling Bryant that he’s coming off the bench behind Young and Clarkson. It’s not a discussion that I would expect to go all too well, given that this may be Bryant’s last hurrah in the league, and that’s before even considering his ego and competitive nature. Williams was signed to provide scoring punch off of the bench for the team, and if Kobe is healthy, he needs to be out there with L.A.’s collection of young players to provide leadership.

The Lakers aren’t going to make the postseason this year, and the organization’s biggest draw will be fans coming out to see Bryant play. The Lakers have little to gain at this point by taking it easy with Bryant’s health, so they might as well try and get their money’s worth out of him. If he has a serious injury, the franchise really doesn’t lose much in the long-run besides some potential tickets sales. I’m not saying that the team should disregard good sense and intentionally run Kobe into the ground, but rather that there wouldn’t be any significant impact on its future if Bryant were to have his final season interrupted prematurely due to injury.

“Would you rather start a franchise with Anthony Davis as your building block or Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns?” — Will

Wow. That’s a really tough call to make. It’s a matter of weighing the value of potentially having two future stars versus one who just happens to be one of the best players in the league. If I was planning for the long haul, adding two starting caliber talents like Towns and Wiggins, who are both under the age of 20, is certainly an extremely appealing option. But Davis is only 22 years old himself, and already a bonafide superstar. Since the NBA is a star-driven league, and Davis has already proven himself to be one, whereas Wiggins and Towns have yet to establish themselves, I’ll go with Davis as the better option here, if only to play it safe.

“Should the Knicks consider hiring Tom Thibodeau to replace Derek Fisher as head coach?” — Pete

While I’m not personally sold on Fisher’s ability to be a successful NBA head coach, especially when he’s hampered by the organization’s insistence on running the triangle offense regardless of the quality of personnel present, it is probably too soon to write him off completely. Look at Jason Kidd, who had an extremely rough start in Brooklyn his first season, but who has seemingly figured things out since then. I’d say Fisher has earned one more season to prove himself before the Knicks seriously consider making a change.

As for Thibodeau, it’s unclear if he would even want to come to New York and join a rebuilding club that doesn’t appear close to title contention. He’ll likely have much better opportunities in the future than with the Knicks. Plus, as long as Phil Jackson is running the team, I don’t think Thibs would be a good fit personality-wise in New York, and with him being a defensive-minded coach, he’s not a great fit for the team’s current roster either.

That’s all the space that I have for this week. Once again I would like to thank all those who sent in their questions. Please keep them coming, and I’ll see you back here next Saturday with more responses.

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“Do you think Doc Rivers was playing coy when he said the team won’t trade Jamal Crawford? Or do you see the Clippers keeping him the full season?” — James

I think Rivers will wait to see how Lance Stephenson will fit in with the team before he makes a final decision regarding Crawford. But beyond that, the Clippers are pretty stocked in the backcourt with Austin Rivers and J.J. Redick also on hand, and who will both cut into Crawford’s playing time. The most sensible path for the Clippers to take would probably be to hang onto Crawford until December, then try to deal him to fill any holes in the team’s rotation. The benefit of holding off on a deal is that it would give the team a better chance to assess its roster, as well as for them to hope that some other teams have a run of early season injuries in their backcourts, thus driving up the asking price for Crawford. Holding off dealing Crawford until the season is underway would also protect the Clippers in the event one of their players were to go down with a serious injury. In the end, I do think Crawford is traded, though it might not be until the February trade deadline.

“Should the Knicks seriously consider trading Carmelo Anthony?” — Vinnie

I think it’s getting to that point, yes. Though, for full-disclosure purposes, I think New York should have worked out a sign-and-trade last offseason rather than ink ‘Melo to his current deal. I’m not the biggest Anthony fan out there, and I firmly believe he needs to be the second or third best player on a team if he ever hopes to win an NBA title. That will likely never be the case with the Knicks, and with him being on the wrong side of 30, Anthony’s almost certainly in his decline phase. With their wealth of roster needs, and distinct lack of future draft picks, the Knicks are in dire need of a complete tear down, which will be difficult to accomplish as long as Anthony’s nearly $23MM salary is on the books for New York.

Of course, Anthony has a big say in all of this, given his no-trade clause. But if the Knicks get off to a slow start and hope for the postseason appears lost, I have a feeling Melo may be more amenable to relocating, though it will be extremely difficult to move that big a salary during the season. If he’s traded, it would likely occur after the season. That would net the Knicks a better return as well as expand the list of potential trade partners.

“Who do you predict will win the Rookie of the Year award for this season?” — Aaron

This is a tough one to answer prior to regular season rosters and starting lineups being set, but I’ll give it a go. The ROTY award is much more about the situation each first year player is placed in than which player is the most talented. Playing time is a huge determining factor, because this is primarily a stats-driven award. So keeping that in mind, I’d have to say the early favorite is the Sixers’ Jahlil Okafor. Philly doesn’t have all that much talent around him, so he should receive ample playing time, as well as become the team’s primary offensive weapon. That combination bodes well for Okafor to earn himself the award … if he can remain healthy and teams don’t park multiple defenders in the paint area to stop him.

“If the Isiah Thomas returning to the Knicks doomsday scenario does indeed come to pass, will Phil Jackson remain with the team?” — Nathan

Quick note, I love the phrasing of your question. It was definitely written by a longtime Knicks fan. I’ve had numerous nightmares involving Isiah making his return to the Knicks, and I hope and pray that it never comes to pass. But unfortunately, Thomas either has some serious blackmail material on James Dolan stashed away, or those two are simply destined to be together…in a basketball sense, of course. I fear as long as Dolan owns the team Isiah will always be lurking in the shadows awaiting his chance to strike, sort of like the antagonist in the film “It Follows.”

If this terrible event should indeed come to pass and Thomas is brought back into the fold with the Knicks, I can’t see any way that he and Jackson could co-exist. I should also mention that I don’t believe Jackson will complete his five year deal with the team regardless of Thomas’ whereabouts. So I could definitely see a scenario where Phil decides he’d rather be on the beach than at Madison Square Garden, and Dolan using that as a reason to bring back Thomas. No matter what the circumstances, I don’t see Thomas and Jackson being able to work together for very long, if at all. All I do know for sure is that I’m actively rooting against the New York Liberty to win even a single game next season. Maybe that would quell the return of Thomas talk? But these are the Knicks after all, so who knows at this point what it would take to make Dolan give up on Thomas for good…

Well, that’s all the space that I have for this week. Thanks to all those who sent in their inquiries. Please keep them coming, and I’ll see you back here next Saturday.

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“What are your thoughts on Michael Kidd-Gilchrist‘s contract extension? Is he worth the money in your opinion?“ — Jason

I keep having to remind myself that the salary cap is going to jump next Summer when considering each new deal that is handed out. If I look at the current salary structure that exists in the NBA, then $13MM for a wing who can’t shoot from the outside seems a bit high to me. But beginning next season, that figure will probably be in line with what players of Kidd-Gilchrist’s talent level will be pulling down.

Charlotte isn’t really a free agent destination for players, which means that it’s vital for the franchise to retain the players it has taken the time to nurture and develop. That’s one of the reasons why I think that it was a wise move to lock up Kidd-Gilchrist for four more seasons, or at least three, if he decides to opt out of the final season of the deal. His defensive prowess, leadership, hustle, and superior athleticism are the other factors that make the young forward a keeper. While it’s not ideal in today’s NBA to have a starting three who isn’t a threat from the outside, possessing a player who can shut down opponents’ top scorers on a nightly basis certainly is an excellent trade off.

One area of concern though is with Kidd-Gilchrist’s ability to remain healthy and on the court. The 21-year-old has missed roughly 29% of Charlotte’s games the last two seasons, which isn’t great. But no matter my thoughts, in the end, I don’t believe that the Hornets had any other choice but to extend Kidd-Gilchrist. With quite a few teams expected to have ample cap space to throw around next offseason, it’s more than likely that Charlotte would have been forced to pony up at least $13MM per season to match any offer sheets that Kidd-Gilchrist were to sign as a restricted free agent anyway.

“Who do you see being the top pick in next year’s NBA Draft?” — Scott

Wow. Questions about the 2016 draft already! I guess it’s never too early to look forward to adding a potential star player for lottery bound teams…unless you’re talking about the Knicks, who will send their first-rounder to Toronto for having had the privilege of Andrea Bargnani sitting behind their bench in street clothes for 95 of the 164 games he was part of the team for. And yes, I am still working out some feelings regarding that trade…

Back to your question, it’s extremely early to definitively predict who will be the first player off the board next June. After all, Jahlil Okafor was the overwhelming choice in most preseason mock drafts last year to be the No. 1 overall pick in 2015, and he fell to No. 3 overall. That just shows what an inexact science player scouting can be. But the early favorite to be the first name intoned by Adam Silver next June is LSU freshman Ben Simmons. Simmons is 6’10” and plays the game like a point guard. The sky is the limit for the 18-year-old, and he certainly has the potential to become a superstar in the NBA. Simmons stiffest competition for the top spot is Kentucky center Skal Labissiere, who should be the next great Wildcat big man.

“What are your thoughts on the Clippers being fined for offering DeAndre Jordan an endorsement deal as part of their pitch?” — Benny

I don’t think it’s a big deal at all really. The fine imposed by the NBA is mere pocket change to an owner as rich as Steve Ballmer is, so the Clippers organization will be just fine. The situation hasn’t reached the conspiracy level associated with the Patriots and “Deflategate,” as well it shouldn’t be. I’d hazard a guess that this sort of deal sweetener is not at all uncommon during negotiations in the NBA, and it’s only coming to light because of the highly unusual circumstances attached to Jordan’s free agent flip-flop on where to sign. I’d also like to take a moment to commend the Mavs’ organization for not trying to turn this into a bigger issue than it really is. While the league’s investigation determined that the Lexus endorsement offer that Jordan was offered didn’t influence him to return to Los Angeles, one can never know for sure if it played a part, no matter how small. Dallas could have made some noise about this, but it has seemingly moved on, which is a good thing for all involved.

In the end, Ballmer’s wallet is a little lighter, Jordan is back where he wants to play, and Dallas still needs a starting center. The league stepped in and meted out a fair punishment, and everyone involved seems satisfied and ready to move on. If this was the NFL we’d be talking about this situation for months, so kudos to the NBA for handling the whole affair swiftly and professionally.

That’s all for this week. Thanks to all those who submitted questions. Please keep them coming in. I’ll be off next Saturday, so I’ll return in two weeks with the next installment.

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“Now that the Mavs have a glut of centers, which player gets the axe before the start of the season?” — Orien

Well, let me first point out that while Dallas currently has five players who can play the pivot, none of them should especially excite fans of the team. Zaza Pachulia is the likely starter, and while he’s serviceable enough, he’s not exactly going to be an All-Star next season. Samuel Dalembert should have the inside track on being the backup, which is in line with his production level. As for the rest of Dallas’ options at the five, the most intriguing is JaVale McGee, who possesses the highest upside of the lot. That’s not to say McGee will make anyone forget Tyson Chandler, but he’s certainly capable of being the x-factor at center next season for the Mavs…if he’s healthy AND makes the opening night roster. I don’t see Salah Mejri or Jarrid Famous making much of an impact in 2015/16, although perhaps the Texas Legends may benefit from one or both of them in the D-League this coming season. The Mavs’ best hope may be to try and mine some gold when training camp cuts begin, or to hope they can luck out with a D-League player once the season is underway like the Heat did with Hassan Whiteside.

“Is Ricky Rubio on borrowed time in Minnesota, and if so, where might he end up?” — Victor

I don’t know if I’d classify Rubio as being on borrowed time, though I’m sure that Minnesota would listen intently to any reasonable trade offer it received for the 24-year-old. After four NBA seasons, three of which were cut short due to injuries, it’s still difficult to nail down just what kind of player Rubio is, and can be. The Wolves are a team on the rise, and are packed with exciting young talent — including Rubio, though I don’t necessarily think he’s a good fit for their roster as it is currently constituted. Minnesota is badly in need of players who can stretch the floor, something that Rubio, who owns a career slash line of .367/.314/.801, has not demonstrated the capability of doing.

Rubio’s contract will also make him difficult to deal this season, with him set to earn $12.7MM. While the team could probably find a taker, the likely return at this point in the offseason wouldn’t be much to write home about. At the very least, the Wolves would most likely have to take back at least one less than desirable contract to get a deal done. I believe that the franchise would be best served to see what kind of season Rubio can put together, if he can finally remain healthy, and how well he meshes with the team’s core of Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, and Karl-Anthony Towns. If Rubio is in fact dealt, I could see him ending up on the Knicks, though they would need to get very creative to fit in his deal with their current cap situation. With New York not being able to make a big splash in free agency, landing Rubio, who would be an upgrade for the Knicks at point guard, may end up being something that both sides explore. But if I had to guess, I’d say there’s a 95% chance that Rubio is on Minnesota’s roster to begin the season, with him being a potential trade deadline move for the Wolves.

“Will the Pistons deal Brandon Jennings before the season begins?” — Charlie

It’s a pretty good bet that Stan Van Gundy would love to remove Jennings’ salary of $8,344,497 from Detroit’s cap figure prior to October, but it’s highly unlikely that he will be able to. With the point guard recovering from Achilles surgery, and potentially out of action until December, I seriously doubt that there would be too many takers at this point. The Sixers are always a possibility to take on expiring contracts like Jennings’ in exchange for drat picks, and they are in need of a stopgap at the one spot,  but it’s still highly improbable. The most likely scenario is that Detroit hangs onto Jennings and hopes that he shows enough prior to the trade deadline that the Pistons can extract some value from a player who they are unlikely to re-sign next Summer.

“As a Knicks fan (which you have admitted to being), what is your take on their offseason? What is your prediction for the team’s record this coming season?” — Luis

Yes, it’s true…my name is Eddie, and I’m a New York Knicks fan. Now that my terrible secret is out, on to your question. New York’s offseason, which began with dreams of landing LaMarcus Aldridge and/or DeAndre Jordan, instead brought Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo, Derrick Williams, and Kyle O’Quinn to the Big Apple. Not a great haul on first blush, though I think the additions of Afflalo, Lopez, and O’Quinn were solid ones. Williams…not so much. He isn’t a good fit for the triangle, not a great rebounder, and I’m not sure how well he’ll mesh with Melo when/if they play alongside one another. Adding backcourt depth and another big should have been a bigger priority than inking Williams.

I think it’s time for both the team and its fans to realize that there is no quick fix coming. Kevin Durant isn’t signing with New York next Summer, nor is LeBron James. This will be a much more drawn out process than simply loading up on star-level talent during the Summer. It’s also a process that Phil Jackson won’t be around for the end of, regardless of if he finishes out his five-year contract or not. Which for the record, I’d say he won’t. But the addition of Afflalo will be a huge boon for Melo, and Lopez, provided he can remain healthy, will certainly improve the team’s rebounding numbers. I’m also a huge fan of adding O’Quinn, who could really have a breakout season for the team, provided he gets the necessary minutes.

I discussed my feeling regarding the addition of Kristaps Porzingis in last week’s mailbag. But in case you missed that, I’ve grown to be a fan of the pick, though he’s realistically two seasons away from blossoming into a steady contributor. Hopefully the team, and its fans, will have the patience to let the kid develop on the fly. But the best addition that Jackson made on draft night was acquiring Jerian Grant. Regardless of Anthony’s feelings on the matter, flipping Tim Hardaway Jr. for Grant was a fantastic move, as Grant is a much better fit for the team’s system, and he plays point guard, a position of need for the Knicks.

As for my season prediction for New York, I’ll definitely say they’ll be a better squad than the D-League caliber bunch that finished out the season. Reaching the playoffs in the East is definitely within reach, but advancing past the first round is likely a pipe dream. Look for the Knicks to win between 30-38 games in 2015/16, and possibly snag the eighth playoff spot. Expecting anything more will lead to heartbreak. Something Knicks fans know all too well…

Well, that’s all the space I have for this week. Thanks again to all who sent in their inquiries, and please keep them coming! I’ll be back next week with more responses.

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“Where do you see Markieff Morris ending up?” — Stu

This is an extremely difficult situation that the Suns have been placed in, and there is no easy answer to this quandary. If Morris had demanded to be dealt immediately after his twin brother was traded, then Phoenix would have had a much better chance of flipping Markieff for ample value, as teams were still in the midst of filling out their rosters, and more franchises would have had available cap space to play with. As it stands now, other teams around the league are well aware of that the Suns need to move the forward, and that limits Ryan McDonough‘s bargaining power significantly.

At this point I don’t think Morris is on the Suns’ opening night roster, unless some serious fence-mending is done by both parties. Thankfully for Phoenix, Mirza Teletovic is on hand to step into the rotation in Morris’ place, which is a nice insurance policy in case the team is unable to deal or placate the young forward. As for potential landing spots, the most likely candidates include the Celtics, Raptors, and possibly the Lakers. Speculation indicated that the Suns had expressed interest in the Pelicans’ Ryan Anderson, but it’s not known if New Orleans would be amenable to a swap, especially given Morris’ reputation as a locker room disruption and his legal issues. I do expect Morris to eventually be dealt, but it will likely be for below market value. Even so, it could become a case of addition by subtraction for the Suns.

“I’m not sold on D’Angelo Russell becoming a star player for the Lakers. Do you think Los Angeles will regret passing on Jahlil Okafor or Emmanuel Mudiay?“ — Deon

Actually, I do think Russell will turn into something special in the league, though I don’t necessarily see him becoming a superstar playmaker like Russell Westbrook or Chris Paul. Having said that, I think if Los Angeles regrets passing on anyone it would be Okafor, since there are far more elite guards entering the NBA than there are big men with star potential. Okafor’s game isn’t without holes, and he and Julius Randle on the same court defensively would have been ugly for the team, but he certainly has the talent to become a franchise centerpiece. I’m also a fan of Mudiay, but he’s a wildcard thanks to his limited track record and decision to play in China last season. I wouldn’t have pulled the trigger on him at No. 2 if I were making decisions for the Lakers, especially with Russell and Okafor available at that slot.

With the NBA becoming more and more reliant on guard play, selecting a talented playmaker like Russell was a wise move. Plus, with the propensity for big men to get injured nowadays, going with a backcourt player is also a safer route. While I do expect Russell to have a challenging rookie season, he was a solid pick by the team, and the Lakers’ fanbase should come to love him in no time at all.

“What happens with the Cavs and Tristan Thompson? If he re-signs for a max salary deal, is he worth that amount?” — Keith

I do believe the two sides will reach an agreement on a deal prior to training camp beginning. The team wants him back, and perhaps more importantly, so does LeBron James.  The complication involved is the luxury tax hit that will be attached to Thompson’s deal, a penalty that could end up being in the $35MM range. Spending approximately $50MM for a backup forward, even one as effective as Thompson, is probably a tough pill for owner Dan Gilbert to swallow. But with the Cavs looking to hang a championship banner, Gilbert almost has no other choice but to pony up. The only real alternative here is for Thompson to sign his qualifying offer, worth nearly $6.778MM, and then hit the market next offseason as an unrestricted free agent. For many players, the opportunity to play for a contender and then enter free agency just as the salary cap is primed to explode would be a dream come true. But Thompson reportedly wants the security of a long-term pact prior to the season tipping off, and has indicated he won’t re-sign with the Cavs if he is forced to go the qualifying offer route.

As for Thompson’s worth, he is indeed a valuable part of Cleveland’s rotation, as well as a solid insurance policy in the event Kevin Love is injured. But is he worth a starting salary of $16,407,500, which is the maximum amount for a player of his experience? I’m sure his agent, Rich Paul, would argue that Thompson is. Me, I’d have to say no. Thompson is a big part of the team, but that is also a huge chunk of cap space to dedicate to a player who averaged 8.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 26.8 minutes per game. Even with the expected jump in player salaries beginning next season thanks to the bulging cap, the economics of a max salary deal for Thompson are a bit hard to fathom. I think the Cavs will argue that point to Paul and Thompson, and in the end they will likely compromise somewhere in the $12MM-$14MM range annually.

“With the new NBA schedule reducing the number of back to back games, does this set up the Spurs to be the favorites to win the NBA title this season?” — Jeffrey

It certainly won’t hurt their chances, but it should also help a number of contending teams just as much, if not more. San Antonio rests its players regularly anyway, much to the chagrin of the league and its broadcast partners, so it’s not as big a game-changer for Popovich’s crew as one might think. The reduction in back to backs should actually help teams like the Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Clippers, and Heat more than the Spurs. Those squads all rely quite heavily on their star players, and aren’t necessarily very deep teams rotation-wise, though Miami has made strides in that area this offseason. Giving players like LeBron or Dwyane Wade more recovery time between contests will not only keep them fresher for the playoffs, it should help improve their overall effectiveness on a night to night basis. I still think the better answer for the league would be to reduce the overall amount of regular season games. Eighty-two is far too many, and I think the NBA’s product suffers as a result. But with all that new TV money set to roll in, I doubt that change will occur.

That’s all the space that I have for this week’s edition. Once again, thanks to all those who submitted their questions, and please keep them coming. I’ll be back next Saturday with more responses.

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“Where do you see J.R. Smith ending up this season?” — Steve

Smith is quickly running out of options as well as bargaining power. He’s also probably thinking that the $6.4MM he would have earned next season, had he not opted out of his deal, is looking better and better each day that he is unemployed. I don’t see many realistic options open to him besides the Cavs, unless he’s willing to go back to China and play, which could become a real possibility if Smith isn’t willing to swallow his pride and take a significant pay cut. Heading to China would allow Smith to join an NBA club in the Spring, where he could be a real difference-maker for the stretch run of the season. But if I had to lay odds on it, I’d say there’s an 80% chance he’s back in Cleveland for the 2015/16 campaign.

“What does Dante Exum‘s injury do to the Jazz’s chances at making the playoffs this season?” — Zach

Well…it certainly doesn’t help matters, that’s for sure, but if it’s any consolation, Utah wasn’t necessarily going to make the playoffs this season even with a healthy Exum. I’m not discounting the team’s second half surge that helped them post a 13 win improvement over the 2013/14 squad, but it’s a huge leap to go from 38 wins to the 46-48 wins likely needed to nab the eighth seed this season. The West is just too darn tough, and there are a number of solid teams that will also be on the outside looking in come the postseason.

Remember, Alec Burks is coming off of a serious injury, and I also think that Rudy Gobert will regress slightly this season. Plus, runs like the Jazz had after the All-Star break are hard to maintain over the course of a full campaign. Lightning in a bottle is hard to catch twice. Looking at the Western Conference playoff teams from a season ago, Dallas and Portland probably won’t be seeing the postseason in 2015/16, but OKC should certainly take one of those slots, and I’ll go out on a limb and say Sacramento nabs the other playoff berth…even if Exum were healthy.

But this stroke of bad luck could end up benefiting Utah in a way, since the team can now throw Trey Burke back into the fire and see if he is worth hanging onto in the future. I like Burke’s makeup and competitive spirit, but I also don’t think he’s a starting-caliber NBA point guard. This season he’ll get a chance to prove me, and whoever else doubts his abilities, wrong. Either way, Utah appears bound for the lottery come next June, though the franchise is certainly on the upswing, and should begin making noise in the West as soon as 2016/17.

“What’s your take on the Nuggets extending Danilo Gallinari‘s deal?” — Freddie

I have mixed opinions on the matter, and need to keep reminding myself about the salary cap boom that is coming when looking at recent contracts. Gallinari is a solid player, but his injury history isn’t great, and one has to think he’s already at his ceiling as far as his on-court production is concerned. But having said that, Denver isn’t really a free agent destination, so retaining players and assets is extremely important for the franchise. A 2015/16 salary of $14MM isn’t that far out of line, and $15.05MM for next season could look like a bargain once the dust settles from what should be a wild 2016 offseason. If Gallinari can remain healthy, which is a big if, then this wasn’t a bad move by the Nuggets.

“What do you think the Pacers’ rotation will look like this season? Where do you see them finishing in the East?” — Sam

Indiana’s rotation for 2015/16 shapes up like this right now:

• PG: George Hill/Rodney Stuckey/Joseph Young
• SG: Monta Ellis/C.J. Miles/Toney Douglas
• SF: Paul George/Solomon Hill
• PF: Jordan Hill/Lavoy Allen
• C: Ian Mahinmi/Myles Turner

One thing to note is that the Pacers are going to play small quite a bit of the time, or at least that’s the plan heading into the season. The team seems intent on utilizing George as a power forward quite a bit, which I’m not too keen on. George is an extremely effective three, and putting him at the four will negate many of his defensive strengths. He’ll be OK versus stretch-fours, but if he has to spend significant time in the paint it will be a very long season for George, and the team.

As for their chances this season, I’d be more optimistic if Indiana wasn’t going to experiment with George. But in a weak Eastern Conference, I could see the Pacers potentially sneaking into the playoffs as a No. 8 seed with a sub-.500 record if they remain healthy. But don’t count on it. Fans of the team shouldn’t expect miracles this season since the team has just begun rebuilding. I do love the additions of Turner and Young via the draft, both of whom will take some time to develop, but possess a wealth of potential. Ellis will provide some scoring punch, but he’s more of a stats guy than a “wins” guy from my perspective.

That’s all the space that I have for this week. Thanks for all the submissions, and please keep them coming! I’ll be back next week with more responses.