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 a continued effort to change things up a bit, I’ve once again invited some of the other staff members to join in on the fun. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“How much will the Heat miss Mario Chalmers, especially if Gerald Green were to miss more time this season? Do you really thing Tyler Johnson is the answer at backup point guard?” — Vinnie

Chris Crouse: The Heat will miss Chalmers. He was playing pretty well this season and with his departure, the door has opened for Tyler Johnson to receive more touches. However, the team seems to be going with Beno Udrih as the backup point guard. That role doesn’t come with the burden of a traditional point guard because of how coach Erik Spoelstra staggers the minutes of Goran Dragic and Dwyane Wade and how much they both handle the rock. Both players should dominate the ball even more as a result of this trade. It’ll really hurt the Heat in games that Wade doesn’t play. Those should be the games where we see Johnson running the offense and probably taking too many shots for a player of his caliber.

“Now that this season’s extension deadline has passed, which player who didn’t agree to an extension will make his team regret it the most? Why?” — Sam

Will Sammon: A handful of guys, notably Andre Drummond and Bradley Beal, are expected to ink deals with their current clubs after not agreeing to an extension. By the end of the season, Evan Fournier could very well make the Magic regret not being able to extend him before the deadline. Fournier is an excellent perimeter defender and is now consistently attacking the rim on offense. He’s an important player right now for the Magic and it will be interesting how Orlando’s offseason shapes up if Fournier ends up not returning.

“Give me your three most under-the-radar free agents for next summer who will make the GMs who sign them look like geniuses. I’ll hold you to these by the way….” — Isaac

Chuck Myron: No pressure, huh? Well, a lot depends on how much you sign a guy for. The genius signing for $5MM is the foolish signing for $15MM. Anyway, Courtney Lee, though he’s off to a slow start this year, has always fit in well for the right team at the right price, so if someone can get him for the mid-level exception next summer, that’ll be a bargain. Alan Anderson, who seems to have exceeded expectations wherever he’s gone, could be available on the cheap if he doesn’t bounce back quickly from his injury. Miles Plumlee, who started for the 48-win Suns team that barely missed the playoffs in 2013/14, is buried on the bench in Milwaukee and is set for restricted free agency. I think he’ll succeed if given minutes somewhere.

“Which rookie(s) have impressed you the most so far this season?” — Billy

Eddie Scarito: I’ve been pleasantly surprised by a number of this year’s crop of rookies, and I’m beginning to believe that the 2015 draft may end up being looked back upon as one of the deeper ones in recent years. I’m glad you allowed me to choose more than one player, since there are a few who have caught my eye. Here are some rookies who I think have stood out from the rest of the pack thus far:

1. Karl-Anthony Towns: Sure, he’s the No. 1 overall pick, and that honor always comes with a set of lofty expectations based on talent level. But after playing just one season at Kentucky, and playing limited minutes while there thanks to the team’s depth, Towns is looking like the real deal for Minnesota. When I say real deal, I mean he appears to have the capability of being a top five player in the league in just a few seasons.
2. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson: Brooklyn did rather well for itself on draft night by nabbing Hollis-Jefferson. Sure, he’s still as raw as freshly butchered steak, but there is no denying that the Nets are a better, more exciting team when he’s on the court. Defensively, he’s already a stud, and Hollis-Jefferson is a highlight reel waiting to happen when running the break. If he can ever develop a passable jump shot, GM Billy King should be lauded for maximizing the No. 23 overall pick he acquired from Portland in exchange for Mason Plumlee.
3. Myles Turner: Turner is another would-be project who has surpassed initial expectations and snagged himself a rotation slot early in his rookie campaign. His fractured left thumb will keep him out of action for roughly a month, which is unfortunate. But the Pacers have to be happy with what the big man has shown them thus far. He looks like he has the makings of a solid stretch-four, and if he can improve his defense, the franchise landed itself a starting-caliber player in this year’s draft.
4. Kristaps Porzingis: Porzingis’ selection was met with quite a bit of skepticism (myself included), but he’s making Phil Jackson look very wise for snagging him at No. 4 overall. I have been very impressed with his rebounding and defense thus far, and the Latvian has shown flashes of greatness on the offensive end at times. After Towns, Porzingis could end up being the second best player in the entire draft. The Knicks finally catch a break and land a player the franchise can build around. What a world.
5. T.J. McConnell: McConnell is the only undrafted player on this list, but he’s held his own thus far, and is averaging a stellar 7.7 assists per game for the Sixers. I’m not sure that he can sustain his production over the course of a full season (probably not), and his playing time will likely take a hit once Tony Wroten and Kendall Marshall return to the lineup. But for now, he’s a great early season storyline, and for Sixers fans struggling to cope with yet another awful start, he’s one of the few reasons to cheer on a nightly basis.

Well, that’s all the space we have for this week. Thanks again to all those who sent in their inquiries. 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 a continued effort to change things up a bit, I’ve once again invited some of the other staff members to join in on the fun. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“Who will be starting point guard for the Sixers by the end of this season? Is the team more likely to fill the spot long-term via the draft, trade, or free agency?” — Billy

Will Sammon: T.J. McConnell — a point guard who went undrafted, by the way — is making it really hard to remove him from the starting role once Kendall Marshall and Tony Wroten are healthy. Would I bet he’s the long-term answer for the Sixers? Probably not. Then again, though, I wouldn’t bet on anything when it comes to the Sixers. GM Sam Hinkie hasn’t done anything to make a free agent want to come to the Sixers. The team will likely have another lottery pick next year and it would make sense to draft a viable point guard.

“Do you see Indiana trading Solomon Hill before the trade deadline? If so, what team might you see that can use him?” — Tyler

Chuck Myron: It’s certainly not uncommon for players in his position to end up in trades, with Austin Rivers a recent example. Any team that turns down a rookie scale option has usually lost faith that the player will become productive on the NBA level, and that’s particularly true when you’re talking about someone who was taken near the end of the draft like Hill was. His option was only worth $2,306,019, a pittance compared to most NBA salaries and only about $1MM more than his minimum salary. The Pacers can’t re-sign him for more than that, and that also applies to any team that trades for him. Ostensibly, that would dampen his trade value, since any team that trades for him runs the risk of getting outbid. But realistically, the chances of that aren’t so great. Unless he goes some place and lights it up in the back half of this season, it shouldn’t take more than $2.3MM to re-sign him. So, with the Pacers more or less having moved on, I can certainly envision Indiana dealing him away, perhaps to the Grizzlies, since Hill’s a decent outside shooter and relatively young, two qualities Memphis lacks. That’s just my speculation, though.

“What are the chances the Timberwolves trade Nikola Pekovic this season? Any teams come to mind that would be interested in him?” — Zeke

Chris Crouse: Pekovic is still recovering from an Achilles injury, but when he does return, it’s unlikely he sees heavy minutes for the Wolves due to the presence of Gorgui Dieng and Karl-Anthony Towns. The best move for Minnesota might be to deal him, however, the team is not going to give him away. He’s owed $35.8MM over the next three seasons. Minnesota has no problem committing that much salary to him because most of its core is going to be on rookie contracts. Pekovic’s contract doesn’t match his production right now, yet, it’s not an unmovable deal, especially with the rising salary cap.

“What gives with Markieff Morris? First he wants out of Phoenix, then he’s happy to be in training camp, and now he wants out again. Where and when will this end?” — Scott

Eddie Scarito: Honestly, I don’t think all that much has changed from the offseason regarding Morris’ feelings toward still being in Phoenix. Markieff and the Suns’ prospects for a healthy long-term relationship don’t appear to be very good, and the franchise dealing away his brother, Marcus, is something I don’t think he’ll get over anytime soon. I don’t believe Markieff has been flip-flopping on his stance on Phoenix at all. Instead, I think he realized that rocking the boat wasn’t going to work for him, especially if the franchise hoped to find a suitor that would offer an acceptable return for his services. The latest chatter from Marcus is merely a case of him speaking out of turn, as well as trying to support his brother. I don’t fault him for that … but it’s not going to help matters to stir up trouble right now.

The whole situation is getting tiresome, and not just from those of us observing from outside the organization. I’ll bet the Suns’ front office would love to part ways with Markieff, but I’d wager nothing will happen until after December 15th, which is when the majority of the league becomes eligible to be dealt. I would be shocked if Morris was still a member of the Suns by the time the February trade deadline rolls around. But … I will also add that I don’t see Phoenix recouping equal value in any deal, since Morris’ antics over the summer most likely didn’t garner too many fans around the rest of the NBA’s front offices. While Morris is certainly a talented player, he’s not quite at the level that is worth the all the headaches that come with him, especially if he remains unhappy at being separated from Marcus.

“What happens if Hassan Whiteside‘s play regresses this season? Could the Heat look to sell him off while he still has high value? If so, what teams could be a fit for Whiteside?” — Larry

Charlie Adams: To be fair, his play hasn’t shown any signs of regressing, and even if he went cold for the next several weeks, almost every team in the league would be interested in acquiring a guy like Whiteside. He’s making less than a million dollars and has All-Star potential, which isn’t typical in the NBA, even for players much younger than him. I’m sure Pat Riley and company have valid concerns about his character and durability, but there’s virtually no chance Whiteside plays for any team other than the Heat this season. There’s a chance he won’t be back in Miami next year, since the Heat don’t have his full Bird Rights, but I think the team will do everything in its power to retain him, even if it means sacrificing a chance at going after a big name free agent from another team. There’s a short list of big men in the league who can fill up a stat sheet the same way Whiteside does.

That’s going to do it for this week’s mailbag. Thanks to all those who sent in their questions. 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 a continued effort to change things up a bit, I’ve once again invited some of the other staff members to join in on the fun. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“With Harrison Barnes and the Warriors not likely to work out an extension, what kind of cap issues will this cause for the team next offseason?” Is Barnes likely to head elsewhere next summer now?” — Li

Chuck Myron: Theoretically, it gives the Warriors a chance to open some cap room for next season, especially if the cap escalates to $95MM instead of the projected $89MM, as some agents and executives around the league reportedly think it will. Still, it’s a long shot that Golden State would clear that cap room, since it would involve waiving Shaun Livingston and Jason Thompson and renouncing the rights to players like Festus Ezeli, who might just sign an extension before Monday’s deadline and close off the cap room possibility anyway. The more realistic effect of failing to sign Barnes to an extension is that the Warriors will be unable to trade him without his consent next summer if an appetizing deal, such as a sign-and-trade for Kevin Durant, were to materialize, as Tim Kawakami of the Bay Area News Group has written on multiple occasions. Granted, I wouldn’t bet on Durant playing with the Warriors next season regardless of what happened with Barnes, but this makes that possibility slightly more remote.

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.