Chad Ford: (1:06 PM ET ) Aloha everyone. Trade deadline tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET. Lots to break down ... let's roll.
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Doug (New York, NY): Chad, what do you think the Knicks will do before the deadline, and what do you think they SHOULD do? Thanks
Chad Ford: (1:10 PM ET ) They are talking about a deal that would move Eddy Curry to Miami ... and bring back Vince Carter. I think the Eddy Curry move is agood one, but I think I'd prefer the cap relief. Carter has roughly 3 years, $54 million left on his contract. Isiah says he isn't interested in caprelief which means ... any GM in their right mind would be interested. If the Knicks are smart, they can have significant room in 2010 ... the year LeBron,DWade and company are free agents. To me it's the only way to salvage a team that's been on the junk heap for so long. Knowing Isiah, he'll takeCarter and then try to waive him next year.
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David (Dallas, TX): What should the Mavs do to shore up the center position with the loss of Diop?
Chad Ford: (1:13 PM ET ) They are in the hunt, along with San Antonio, Orlando and others for Kurt Thomas. However, the only way Dallas will be able to swingit financially is to hope that the Sonics don't trade him and then release him after the trade deadline. A lot of teams think they'll do just that ...which is why teams are reluctant to give up expiring contracts and a first round pick for him (that's Seattle's asking price). There aren't a lotof other cheap players out there that can fill that role for Dallas. I think they'll have to stick with Dampier, Brandon Bass and Malik Allen.
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Jason (Washington, DC): Lots of talk of Kurt Thomas going to Orlando. Any update on that?
Chad Ford: (1:15 PM ET ) I was hearing strongly this morning that the Magic where in the lead to acquire Thomas' services. He'd be a good fit inOrlando and they have the expiring contracts to make it happen. But is a guy in the last year of his deal worth a first round pick as well? That's a steepprice. I think there are other deals Orlando could get that would give them a younger, more productive four. They might have to trade Turkoglu (who admittedlyhas been great this year) ... but if they could shore up their front line and move Rashard Lewis back to his natural position, they should do it.
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Arief (New York)NY: Do you see Golden State Warriors making any moves before the deadline?
Chad Ford: (1:17 PM ET ) I do. I think Chris Mullin has to pull the trigger. Their window with Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson is closing. They do have youngguys, but short of Monta Ellis, it doesn't appear that any of them have star written on them. If they can package Andris Biedrins, Mickael Pietrus andmaybe a veteran for a top tier big man ... they should do it. I just don't think Chris Webber can hold down the fort.
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chris, new york, ny: Chad, let's talk nets. They need more fixes, they are still a mediocre team and mediocrity is terrible in professional sports. Carterfor expiring contracts is more than FV. Any takers?
Chad Ford: (1:19 PM ET ) I think they'd take Carter for expiring contracts in a heart beat. That would put them somewhere between $15 to $20 million underthe cap. They have a good young core with Richard Jefferson, Devin Harris, Sean Williams and maybe Nenad Krstic if he can get 100 percent again. They won'tbe far away from being one of the more exciting teams in the league. A decent draft pick, a good free agent signing and they will be reloaded. I thinkthat's the dream scenario for NJ. A very quick rebuild. If they can move VC for expiring contracts this year, I wouldn't be shocked if they did it forexpiring contracts next year.
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Joe (NY): Why is Artest a good fit in Denver? Where does he play? He is big but not tall enough to play PF. Would he or Carmelo move to SG??
Chad Ford: (1:20 PM ET ) Here's the thing ... Artest can guard positions 1 through 4 ... so it doesn't matter where you put him on offense. The thingis, he'll come in and immediately lock down the opposing team's best offensive player. That's why the Nuggets want him. I think, given the alreadyquestionable chemistry on the Nuggets, it's a huge risk ... but if Artest behaves, they'll be very, very tough.
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Celo, San Francisco: What about Artest to the Magic? The need a defensive stopper.
Chad Ford: (1:23 PM ET ) That will never happen. There are only a small handful of teams that would be willing to do Artest: Denver, New York and possibly SanAntonio because they have such a rock solid veteran presence. Lakers would probably take him too. I hear Phoenix also has a little bit of interest, though Ican't believe they'd risk adding even more wildcards to their chemistry.
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Mark (Cleveland, OH): Is there truth to this Miller, Lowry, Cardinal to Cavs for Newble, Marshall, Brown, Dwayne Jones, Simmons deal? This seems to be a bigtopic in Cleveland today. It seems the kicker to this deal would be Cleveland taking on the Brian Cardinal contract. Is he the deal breaker for other teamswanting Miller and Lowry alone?
Chad Ford: (1:26 PM ET ) It's tough to say. The Grizzlies have gotten a number of offers for Miller and Lowry. The Cavs are the only team I've heard ofthat might be willing to take back Cardinal's two years, $13 million as part of it. They don't have a lot of great assets to give Memphis back exceptlong term cap relief and some late first round draft picks. Is that enough? Memphis keeps saying they want players, not cap relief for Miller and Lowry ... butnot many GMs believe them based off of the Gasol trade. We'll see if Cleveland can get it done. If they can't, I'm not sure they'll be able topull anything off of any real value ... maybe they can snag Delonte West from Seattle. Maybe.
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Justin (PROVO): Jarron Collins, Jason Hart, and Mo Almond for Jeff Foster... what do you think? I hear Mr. Bird is very high on Almond, and the Jazz could usea defensive big man to back up Okur.
Chad Ford: (1:32 PM ET ) I think Jeff Foster has much more value than that. He ranks as one of the top 5 best offensive rebounders in the game, is moreathletic than people think, and he's got size. I think there will be a lot of teams trying to snag him from Indiana. He's the perfect type of sixth manfor a team with championship aspirations and he has a very reasonable contract.
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matt (detroit): do you see detroit adding anything at the deadline? they have a load of expiring contracts.
Chad Ford: (1:34 PM ET ) I think Joe D will make a move if it's clear upgrade ... kind of like he did a few years ago with Rasheed Wallace. The Pistons arein very good shape, but if they could get another big man .. it would help things.
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Ivan(Los Angeles, CA): Are the Lakers still looking to trade or are they happy with the current team?
Chad Ford: (1:35 PM ET ) I don't see the Lakers making a big deal. I've heard the plan is to ride out Lamar Odom until the summer and then see if theywant to go a different direction.
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Pete (Philly): Are the sixers going to trade Andre Miller? On the one hand, his value will never be higher, on the other, he really makes players on our teambetter.
Chad Ford: (1:38 PM ET ) It's a tough call. Short term, the Sixers are better off keeping him. The best way to develop young players is to have them in acompetitive environment. Andre Miller has helped Philly stay in the playoff hunt and in the process, guys like Andre Iguodala, Samuel Dalembert, Thaddeus Youngand Louis Williams get valuable experience. However, long term, if they don't move him, they probably won't have enough cap room to make a run at a toptier free agent like Elton Brand or Gilbert Arenas. To me ... I trade him, get back an expiring contract, a good draft pick or two and then make a run at Brandor Arenas. Either of those guys would have the Sixers rolling again as soon as next year.
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Brock (Anderson, IN): The Pacers have been shopping JO and heard some rumblings about JT. Any chance of either or both can be moved by Thursday. Dont you thinkits time the Pacers start with a bit of rebuilding mode?
Chad Ford: (1:42 PM ET ) The problem is that teams are wondering about Jermaine O'Neal's health. Here's the crazy thing, just a year and a halfago, we were talking about JO as a superstar. He's had some injury issues, but he's 29 and doesn't have a ton of miles on his legs. Whywouldn't a team make a run at him if they could, like Phoenix did with Shaq, get their doctors to take a look? I think he has a lot left in the tank andshould be commanding a bigger price tag. That's why Indiana won't give him away ... they know he's more valuable than the current offering price.Tinsley? He's been mentioned on the block for a while ... he's great one night, injured the next. I'm not sure what his value is. As forrebuilding? I think Indiana would do it, but they can't just give away JO. It has to be a deal that gives them back young players, draft picks or a guylike Shawn Marion.
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Brian (Chicago): Any word on what John Paxson is doing? All of the "assets" that he bragged about has so far fetched us zilch.
Chad Ford: (1:44 PM ET ) Your guess is as good as mine. Either they are in stealth mode or nothing significant is happening. I'm not sure what isparalyzing the team. They've seen player after player that they've coveted get traded and can't seem to pull the trigger on anything. Yesthey'd move Ben Wallace -- but they'll have to give more ... like Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah or Luol Deng or Ben Gordon to make an impact deal.
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Will (Milwaukee, WI): Chad- The Bucks badly need to make a trade. Do you seem them making any moves before tomorrow?
Chad Ford: (1:46 PM ET ) They're another team that seems paralyzed ... Charlie Villanueva, Michael Redd ... they have some pieces to move ... but whatdirection is this franchise going? If Herb Kohl isn't going to let Larry Harris do his job (and by the way, I think Harris is a good GM) then he needs tohire someone who he will let work ... the limbo isn't working for anyone.
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Kyle (ATL): Chad... Your thought on the Bibby trade after last night? Still a great trade, or did ATL give away to much bench help?
Chad Ford: (1:47 PM ET ) It was a good trade for Atlanta. They didn't give away much. They aren't in the same class with the Lakers, but this shouldguarantee them a playoff spot in the East. Still, I have to believe that overall, Bibby's nothing more than a band aid. They need a good young point guard.
Chad Ford: (1:47 PM ET ) It was a good trade for Atlanta. They didn't give away much. They aren't in the same class with the Lakers, but this shouldguarantee them a playoff spot in the East. Still, I have to believe that overall, Bibby's nothing more than a band aid. They need a good young point guard.
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Doug (NY): As a long suffering Knicks fan, can you please explain to me why "Isiah says he isn't interested in cap relief"? Will he ever learn?
Chad Ford: (1:47 PM ET ) No ... it appears he'll never learn.
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Kevin McHale (Minneapolis, MN): Am I still the worst GM in the NBA? I can't think of anybody worse... although I'm apparently never going to get fired,so I guess it's not a problem!
Chad Ford: (1:48 PM ET ) At least McHale understands the value of cap space and young players. Isiah can't even get that right.
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Chris (Broadview Heights, OH): Let me get this straight, the Grizzlies were willing to give up Pau Gasol for cap space but aren't willing to give up MikeMiller for cap space? Am I getting this right, isn't Pau Gasol more valuable of a player than Mike Miller?
Chad Ford: (1:48 PM ET ) Yeah ... that's essentially what every GM in the league is saying? I think Chris Wallace was stung by the criticism of the Gasoltrade ... so now you have him swinging the other way.
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Mark(Portland): What kind of tricks does KP have up his sleeve? The only thing I hear is he's shopping Jarret Jack. Anything else happening?
Chad Ford: (1:52 PM ET ) He's been out looking for a core player at either the point or small forward. I think he'd part with Jarrett Jack, TravisOutlaw, Sergio Rodriguez, Martell Webster and picks ... but only if he got a very high caliber young point guard or three in return. Someone like Devin Harris(who now is off the trading block) or Danny Granger (who I don't think the Pacers will trade).
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Kyle (ATL): Bibby a band aid? Need a good young point guard? Is that not Acie Law?
Chad Ford: (1:52 PM ET ) No ... I think Law is a career back-up. Just my opinion.
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Will (Denver): What's the sticking point in Artest deal to Denver, Kleiza?
Chad Ford: (1:54 PM ET ) Appears to be. The issue I have with Denver on this is ... if Artest is on the team, Kleiza's minutes will plummet. I think theysee him as insurance if Artest opts out. He's so unpredictable ... that's what makes him hard to move. If Artest opts out ... who knows what he'llask for in free agency. It's a risk.
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Eric (SoCal): What pieces would the Spurs have to move in order to upgrade? Do you think Artest would help this team?
Chad Ford: (1:56 PM ET ) They have a lot of expiring contracts (about $15 million worth) and they have the draft rights to Tiago Splitter ... who's havinga very good season in Spain. They also have Ian Mahinmi ... who is having a good run in the D League right now. So ... they have assets. It's about findingthe right player and keeping this team from incurring a huge luxury tax bill.
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Jim: Are the Suns going to fill either void that still remains: backup PG and versatile defender?
Chad Ford: (1:58 PM ET ) They are looking. It sounds like their owner, Robert Sarver, is giving the green light again to spend money. I think someone likeMickael Pietrus would be perfect, but I don't see the Warriors giving him away to a division rival. As far as point guards go ... they like Kyle Lowry ...and don't forget they have a trade exception to work with and Atlanta's first round pick this year. Not sure they'll make another move before thedeadline ... but they'll be active.
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John: Chad: Please tell me the Heat will make a move to improve for next year.
Chad Ford: (2:01 PM ET ) I'm told they are working it on multiple fronts. They have Jason Williams expiring contract (worth nearly $9 million) and RickyDavis's expiring contract (worth nearly $7 million) ... so they do have a lot of assets should they choose to make a deal or two. Or ... they can waituntil the summer, hope Shawn Marion opts out and then have tons of cap space. Personally, I think they should use the room, bring in a guy like Mike Miller andmaybe Eddy Curry, use their lottery pick and be back in business ....
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Laird (NYC): How good can Kyle Lowry be on a new team?
Chad Ford: (2:03 PM ET ) He seems to be the most popular name in the chat today ... a little 6 foot point guard from Villanova -- averaging 8.5 ppg, 3.6 apgand shooting 39 percent from the field and 25 percent from three. I love Lowry because of his energy and toughness ... but don't you think this is a littleridiculous? If Chris Wallace doesn't trade this guy now ... when his trade value is 10 times higher than his actual production ... he's nuts.
Chad Ford: (2:04 PM ET ) I've got to run everyone. I'll be back tomorrow (Thursday) same time, same place to keep you updated on the latest.