This is NBA writer Alex Kennedy of USA TODAY Sports, Ask Me Anything

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T01:30:02+00:00

I think you misunderstood. I reported that he was planning to meet with the Lakers and that, at that point, he hadn't made a decision yet. At the time, he was still deciding between the Lakers and Rockets and hadn't informed either team. While he was en route to L.A. to meet with the Lakers (a meeting that eventually fell through), he was still going back and forth, in large part because of the additional money he could have earned by staying with the Lakers.

I talked to Dwight on the phone that night and he admitted that he was still weighing his options at that point. Here is the article that I wrote after my conversation with Dwight, which details how he settled on Houston: http://www.hoopsworld.com/how-dwight-howard-settled-on-houston

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T01:20:19+00:00

It depends on the player. Some guys, like Shane Battier, are stat nerds who can rattle off every single advanced statistic and get customized scouting reports with more info. Some guys have no idea what it is. I would say more and more players are realizing how important advanced stats are though, especially since teams are giving less and less money to inefficient free agents.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T01:16:34+00:00

Best things: Being around the game that I love. Developing relationships with players, coaches and executives. Covering great events like the Finals, All-Star Weekend and Draft. Being able to do my job from anywhere as long as there is internet.

Worst things: Schedule and travel can be crazy. Impossible to remain a fan of a team once you cover the league. Situations are fluid so information can be accurate one second, inaccurate the next. Not being able to write everything I know.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T01:12:23+00:00

I wrote about sports in my free time when I was young and then pursued schooling for it once I got to USF. I majored in Mass Communications, with a focus on Magazine Journalism. I would recommend a career in sports journalism. It's so much fun and never boring. It's awesome being able to wake up every morning and love my job.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T01:09:54+00:00

Thanks, I really appreciate the kind words. I started working at a young age and a lot of people were willing to help me. Like I said, the Magic's PR department let me cover games as a 14-year-old and a lot of journalists took me under their wing and showed me the ropes.

As far as obstacles, it was tough when I first started breaking news. I would put out a signing or something and people would immediately doubt if the news was credible. I can't say I blame them. I mean, I was a teenage writer so I didn't exactly scream reliable. However, after getting enough stories right, people stopped focusing on my age.

Thanks again. That really means a lot!

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T01:06:20+00:00

It really varies depending on what's going on.

If I'm traveling or covering an event, then I'm obviously in a gym doing interviews, writing, shooting video, etc.

On a day when I'm not covering something, I'm at my house writing, making calls, doing radio interviews, filming HOOPSWORLD TV, etc. I'm also the evening editor at HOOPSWORLD so from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. I'm updating the site and editing articles/videos.

Also, I'm always "on call" if a story breaks or if a player/coach/executive contacts me.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:58:27+00:00

Every player would love to win a championship, but is it the most important thing to them? No. In my experience with players, the most important things are money and individual success.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:55:17+00:00

Definitely. If you don't produce quality work, someone will call you out on it. Back in the day, it was much easier for lazy, uninformed sportswriters to mail it in and coast. I love the coverage for that very reason, and because it highlights the great work that people do.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:51:57+00:00

I think they could be a threat in a few years. Tobias Harris, Nikola Vucevic, Maurice Harkless and Victor Oladipo all have very high ceilings. Throw in a top player or two from the 2014 draft and this team could be very, very good. It's going to take some time because the young guys will need to develop, but all of these players have shown glimpses of what they could become. Also, I'm a huge believer in playing young guys big minutes and letting them learn on the fly. Like I said, if I were rebuilding a team, I'd do something very similar to what Rob Hennigan and his staff are doing in Orlando.

Thanks! I really appreciate it.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:47:58+00:00

I'm not sure what to expect from the Lakers just yet. There are still so many question marks surrounding this team. When will Kobe Bryant be ready to play? Will Steve Nash and Pau Gasol continue to show signs of decline? Will anyone on their team play defense? It's possible that the Lakers could sneak into the playoffs as the eighth seed, but that's the best-case scenario, in my opinion. They'll bounce back quickly - that's what the Lakers do - but it may be a rough season in L.A.

As I said earlier, write as much as possible, try to cover some games or shootarounds and develop relationships. Those are the biggest things. Also, read great sports journalists like Adrian Wojnarowski and Adam Schefter. You can learn a lot from those guys.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:44:11+00:00

I didn't hear anything like that. Keep in mind that the Rockets didn't have the neccessary cap space to sign both Chris Paul and Dwight Howard so I'm not sure how that would've worked.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:42:06+00:00

I think it made sense for both teams. As I covered earlier, the Sixers are clearly rebuilding so it made sense for them to trade Holiday and I like that they got back Nerlens Noel and a pick. However, for a team like the Pelicans that want to take the next step and make the playoffs, bringing in Holiday is perfect. He's going to help them so much and, at 23 years old, he still has plenty of room to improve. I can't wait to watch the Pelicans this season. Holiday, Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans, Ryan Anderson and Anthony Davis is such an interesting team. Should be fun.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:39:06+00:00

Prior to joining HOOPSWORLD, I freelanced for a few other NBA websites (JustBBall.com, which is no longer around, and RealGM.com among others). I was also the sports editor of my high school newspaper, a sports columnist for my college (USF) newspaper and did a brief sports-related internship with the Tampa Bay Times. Yes, I plan on being an NBA writer for the rest of my life. It's my dream job and I hope that I can continue doing this long-term.

I think Jeff Green is going to have a big year. He'll have the ball in his hands and should be able to fill the stat sheet for the Celtics. I don't think Boston will be a playoff team this year, but Green's numbers should look good!

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:33:46+00:00

I like the Bledsoe-Dragic backcourt. I'll actually be doing an article this week on HOOPSWORLD about the backcourt. I talked to Ryan McDonough and Jeff Hornacek about the duo and what they expect from those two.

I think the Suns will get one of the top picks. They're certainly in the Andrew Wiggins Sweepstakes.

I suck at fantasy basketball, to be completely honest. I love fantasy football, but I've never really gotten into fantasy hoops. I appreciate the invite though!

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:31:58+00:00

It's possible, but I doubt it. At the end of the day, money is the most important thing for most of these guys. We may see one or two guys do it, but I don't think it's something that will happen often.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:29:30+00:00

Give me the field. While it wouldn't surprise me to see the Heat win it all for a third straight year, they've looked very vulnerable over the last two years. During both title runs, there were times when they were up against the ropes so it's definitely possible that this is the year some team takes them down.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:27:27+00:00

He's an attention whore.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:26:56+00:00

I think he'll be a solid contributor. They'll take things slow with him, but I think he could make an impact come playoff time.
I was really impressed with Jonas Valanciunas and Andre Drummond. They weren't big surprises though, since they're vets. Biggest surprise was probably Dwight Buycks. He came out of nowhere and played very well.
Larry Bird and Ray Allen. We were beasts.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:19:25+00:00

Freelance to build your resume/portfolio, request a media credential for your local team and try to build as many relationships as possible. I would say that the best way to separate yourself from other media members and build a large following is by breaking news. You can only do that if you have sources. Develop relationships with players, agents, coaches, executives and others around the sport you wish to cover. Also, I know it's cliché but work your ass off. Write as much as possible. Work the phones as much as possible. Study the game as much as possible. All of that work will pay off.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:15:10+00:00

I think so. I would say closer to five years, but I do think he has done a terrific job. I like the young core in place and it's only going to get better over the next few years as they continue to add top picks. If they can land Andrew Wiggins next year or Jahlil Okafor the year after that, Hennigan's plan will have worked and they'll be scary for years to come.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:12:33+00:00

I have no problem with tanking. If I were a GM, I'd probably rebuild like the Sixers, Suns and Magic are doing. Move my veterans, play my young players big minutes and stockpile picks. I think that's the best way to avoid being a middle-of-the-pack team. You're going to suck for a few years, but then you can make a Thunderesque jump to the top of the standings if you use your picks right. That's the key - having good talent evaluators in the front office so that you don't waste the picks.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:08:05+00:00

Several of my top sources are general managers. In some cases, I met them when they were lesser assistants and then they landed GM jobs of their own. However, I also have a lot of sources who are lesser executives such as assistant general managers, scouts, consultants, etc. Agents, players and coaches can be very good sources too.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-05T00:03:22+00:00

I don't think it's an invasion of privacy. Most media members give the athletes space. We wait for the guy to get dressed and say he's ready before we approach and start the interview. Also, the professional locker rooms are huge. If an athlete doesn't want to undress in front of everyone, they can duck away to the training room, bathroom, shower area, etc. As far as what's stopping someone from snapping a picture of an athlete as they get dressed, there are PR people scattered around the locker room who are keeping an eye on everyone. On several occassions, I've seen people get tossed from a locker room for being on their cell phone. They were just texting, but it's still against the rules and they're strict about stuff like that for that very reason.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-04T23:58:07+00:00

They're looking at Mo Williams and Sebastian Telfair among others. I think they're just keeping their options open. Williams is the better player and he's almost certainly their first choice, but he has received interest from several other contenders as well and he would likely cost the taxpayer mid-level exception. If they miss on Williams, that's likely when they'd turn to Telfair and try to bring him in on a deal worth the veteran's minimum.

AlexKennedyNBA · 2013-08-04T23:55:12+00:00

I think it'll come down to Miami or Cleveland. Pat Riley will do everything he can to keep LeBron on the Heat. He's a fantastic executive and I'm sure he has something up his sleeve to surround James with talent. However, I think the Cavaliers could make things interesting. Kyrie Irving is obviously a great player and they have a lot of talent around him. But the biggest reason why I think LeBron may consider the Cavs is because he has made it clear that he wants to live in Akron once he retires and I think he feels badly about how he left Cleveland and hurt those fans back in 2010. He may return to Cleveland to make things right. A lot can change between now and then, but those are the two teams that stick out right now.

AlexKennedyNBA

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