Chris Sheridan: Good afternoon folks. Sorry for the delay getting started. The chat software was treating me like an Outsider, not an Insider, and demanded to know one of my 527 ESPN software passwords. What shall we chat about today? The Kobe-Odom feud? The Odom-Payton feud? The Odom-Artest rumors? The LB-Stephon feud? The overall lack o' trades? Robert Swift? Bring it on.




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jj baldwin ny: hey chris happy holidays .........i would like 2 know are there any trade rumors out there for the knicks i know they wanted earl watson and rashard lewis are those 2 deals likely to happen anytime soon

Chris Sheridan: Uh, not likely anytime soon, jj. The Knicks only hope regarding Watson would be for Camby's finger injury to keep him sidelined for 3 months. Then the Nuggets might get desperate and take Jerome James for Earl. Otherwise, they don't want Malik Rose, Maurice Taylor, though there's a possibility they could take a shot at Quentin Richardson if they're unable to get Artest. As for Rashard Lewis, the only hope is for the Sonics to suddenly become interested in Stephon. Don't count on that, though.


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Robert Rancho Cucamonga, CA: Who do you think will land Artest?

Chris Sheridan: I got some grief for answering Golden State in last week's chat without adding any explanation, but I just had a gut feeling at the time. One thing the Warriors have, which the Pacers might have to settle for, is extra No. 1 draft picks. There are details in my Western Conference report cards, which ran yesterday. East report cards are up today.


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Mario (Toledo, OH): No one does drama like the only true Hollywood team! What's everything boil down to? Is it going to take dealing Odom for LA to get Artest or will Phil have his hands full with those two and Kobe? He'll soon be wishing for the days when it was just Kobe vs Shaq, if he's not already.

Chris Sheridan: There was a lot of Odom stuff floating around the rumor mill yesterday, and Peter Vecsey has a story in today's NYPost detailing some of the viciousness that was floating around the Lakers in the past few days. It's been quite a while since Kobe caused any grief, and he was probably overdue. He can behave like a diva sometimes, and when superstars begin acting like divas things can get ugly.


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Widmer (Portland, OR): What's going to happen to the Hornets after this season? Seems like OK City is really supporting the team. Any chance they'll stay in Oklahoma?

Chris Sheridan: It'll be interesting to see how David Stern might have to wiggle out of his repeated pronouncements that the Hornets are going back to New Orleans. Period. I have friends in New Orleans who just visited New York and described the current surreal state of things in their city, with 80 percent of the population simply gone and a large portion of them never coming back. Why on earth the NBA would force the Hornets back there is beyond me, since it clearly wasn't working for them there. Maybe it's all a plot to force George Shinn to sell the team. I wonder what will happen if Oklahoma City actually does lose the Hornets, and another team _ perhaps the Magic _ decides to move in. Would the people there switch their allegiance to the 'new' home team? It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out over the next year and a half. For now, you can bet on Shinn picking up his one-year option to remain in Oklahoma City for the 2006-07 season.


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Jason (Peru, IN): Will the Pacers get enough in return in for Artest to become contenders in the East this year? Or are they already looking toward next season?

Chris Sheridan: That's part of their dilemma. If there was an offer on ther table that would help them get to the Eastern Conference finals this season, they'd have taken it already. They knew going into this that they'd never match Artest's talent in a trade, but I don't think they expected to get lowballed by so many teams. I think Bird made a mistake by saying publicly that they were trying to trade him to a team in the West. That might have prevented them from receiving a better offer from someone in the East. If I'm Miami, for instance, and I think the Pacers are going to turn me down, I don't give them by best offer because it's useless. But if I think I have a realistic chance, I give the Pacers something to think about _ Antoine Walker, perhaps. Donnie Walsh has always liked 'Toine.


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Don (Greenville, NC): Hey Chris. I know the Pistons are playing great right now, and I expect them to continue. Family members and I were discussing whether or not we thought Joe might try to add another player. We don't really see a need for anything except possibly a pure shooter. Your thoughts?

Chris Sheridan: I asked Joe that very question a couple days ago when I had him on the phone to discuss the Pistons' report card (note second shameless plug for my latest project). He said he'd like to add another piece to the bench, which is curious because he's about to get Lindsey Hunter back and he hasn't even dusted off Dale Davis yet. Another shooter is never a bad idea, but will he be able to hit the type of big shots like the one Sheed drained from 26 feet last night to bury the Heat?


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Adam (Chicago): What can the Cavs do to gain consistency? Any trades on the horizon for them? They seem to be right on the brink of the East's elite 3.

Chris Sheridan: I saw them against the Nets the other night when they lost, and it was really kind of striking the way they gave little effort on defense and were hapless against pretty much any play New Jersey ran. I still see them as a question mark team, with a little too much immaturity and not enough of a body of work to get me drinking the wine and gold Kool-Aid.


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Matt, Toronto ON: Is there any chance of the Raptors getting Artest? They have young talent and two draft picks. It seems the Pacers haven't been too interested in the current offers.

Chris Sheridan: If the Raptors trade for Artest, they run the risk that he'll pull an Alonzo Mourning and refuse to show up. Believe me, there are several teams who won't go near the guy because that's exactly what they fear will happen to them. So let's say Babcock gives up Mo Peterson and a No. 1, then Artest doesn't show up. Now you don't have MoP, you don't have your No. 1 pick and you don't have Artest. That would be bad, no?


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Francis (IL): Are the Pistons going to stick with Darko?

Chris Sheridan: I have to think they're going to give up on him in the not-too-distant future. Let's face it, the pistons are going to be contending for championships for the next three yars, at least (provided they re-sign Ben Wallace). When exactly is Darko going to get any playing time? At some point they'll be presented with an offer for Darko that makes a lot of sense.


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Eric (Indy): Chris what's worse: Takind Sam Bowie over MJ or DMilicic over DWade?

Chris Sheridan: The Bowie pick will never be matched. Ever. The thing about the Darko pick was the caliber of players that went immediately after him _ Carmelo Anthony, then Chris Bosh, then Dwyane Wade, then Chris Kaman, then Kirk Hinrich, then T.J. Ford. That was a heck of a draft.


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Mike (New Jersey): Whats going on with the bulls, are they looking to make any trades for an inside presence?

Chris Sheridan: John Paxson said the moves the Bulls will make will be ditated in large part by the moves other teams make between now and the trade deadline. If Al Harrington or Peja Stojakovic get traded elsewhere and the Bulls believe neither will be available on the free agent market, they'll have to adjust accordingly. Whether that means they'll make their big changes in late February or mid-July remains to be seen.


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Jamison (Atlanta): Now that it look like a fluke run by the Hawks. Will they finally trade Al? I am getting tired of seeing Marvin sit on the bench doing nothing while every other rookie is showing growth and promise.

Chris Sheridan: Billy Knight wants to see Marvin on the floor, too, which is why he's listening to trade offers for Al Harrington. The Hawks want a No. 1 pick and a good player back, and they're low on No. 1s after giving two of 'em to the Suns in the Joe Johnson-Boris Diaw trade. One of those picks is the Hawks' own, and it's unprotected after two years.


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Nate(Atlanta): Whats going on with Orlando? Any trades you happening before the deadline? You really think they'll leave Orlando one day?

Chris Sheridan: Their payroll is up around $73 million, and I'm told they're basically bleeding red ink. No one goes to their games anymore, and ownership wants a new arena that the taxpayers don't want to give them. So, yeah, I think they're leaving. As for trades, they'd like to get something decent for Cato if they decide to trade someone some size. He comes off the cap at the end of the season, and trust me when I tell you the Magic won't trade him for a player with a long contract.


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Andy (LA).: J. Bender's retiring?

Chris Sheridan: J. Bender's knees are shot, which is forcing him to retire. The Antonio Davis-Bender trade will forever go down as one of the worst in Pacers history _ at least until we see what the Artest trade turns out to be.


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James Scarrella (San Antonio,Tx): Do you see the spurs making any attempt to move Rasho, Nazr, or Brent Berry before the trade deadline?

Chris Sheridan: Maybe Nazr, since he's a free agent after this season and doesn't play much anymore. They have Oberto to back up Rasho, and Sean Marks is there, too. I think they like having the luxury of bringing Barry and Van Exel off the bench, both of whom could replace Beno Udrih at the backup point guard spot if he runs across another postseason encounter like the one he had against the Pistons in the finals when he could barely get the ball past midcourt against Lindsey Hunter and Chauncey Billups.


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Dan (NY, NY): We know Isiah messed up by trading away so many draft picks when drafting is what he does best, but do you think he'll be able to redeem himself by getting the Raptor's pick in a Jalen Rose trade?

Chris Sheridan: I don't see a Jalen Rose-Penny Hardaway trade making any sense at all for the Knicks, even if they get a No. 1 back. Rose makes nearly $17 million next season, and if the Knicks had him they'd have to pay a $17 million luxury tax, too. So that would be $34 million the Knicks would be spending to get a No. 1 pick. Even for them, that's a lot.


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Shawn (Dallas): Give some love to the Mavs! Are they even considering trading any of their young talent (Howard, Daniels or Harris)? Also, any takers for Van Horn?

Chris Sheridan: They wouldn't consider trading any of those three young players for Artest, which should tell you somethin about their commitment level to those guys. Then again, if there was a player out there that the Mavs thought could defend Duncan and help them get past the Spurs, they might take a chance and move one of the kids for him. But how many players are there out there who can defend Duncan?


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Jeremy (CHI): Please tell me what the deal is with the Bulls' #1 pick from NY from Eddy. Is it protected in any way? Will they get it outright regardless?

Chris Sheridan: It's complicated, but it goes like this: The Knicks still owe the Suns a No. 1 pick from the Marbury trade, but they have protection on that pick through 2009 (top 25 in 2006, top 24 in 2007, top 23 in 2008, top 22 in 2009. In 2010, it's unprotected. (The Suns have since traded that pick to Utah). Since the Knicks aren't going to finish with the fourth-best record in the league this season, that pick will remain protected and the Jazz won't get it. As part of their trade with the Bulls, the Knicks agreed to give Chicago their No. 1 pick if the Jazz didn't get it. And since the Jazz aren't getting it, the Bulls are. But wait, there's more. The Knicks also gave the Bulls the right to swap first-round picks in 2007. So if the Knicks win the lottery, the Bulls get the No. 1 pick. The Knicks also gave up their second-round picks in 2007 and 2009.


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Jamie (CHC): Is there something you wanted to talk about regarding Robert Swift?? Has he made it off the bench yet?? Is he even any good??

Chris Sheridan: How this guy is not in the D-League is beyond me. He's played in three games and scored one point. One. He's one of the few guys in the league having a worse season than the other Swift, Stromile.

Chris Sheridan: That's all the time I have for this afternoon, folks. Hopefully by this time next week we can talk about the fallout from the Artest trade _ if it ever happens.

Chris Sheridan: It's complicated, but it goes like this: The Knicks still owe the Suns a No. 1 pick from the Marbury trade, but they have protection on that pick through 2009 (top 25 in 2006, top 24 in 2007, top 23 in 2008, top 22 in 2009. In 2010, it's unprotected. (The Suns have since traded that pick to Utah). Since the Knicks aren't going to finish with the fourth-best record in the league this season, that pick will remain protected and the Jazz won't get it. As part of their trade with the Bulls, the Knicks agreed to give Chicago their No. 1 pick if the Jazz didn't get it. And since the Jazz aren't getting it, the Bulls are. But wait, there's more. The Knicks also gave the Bulls the right to swap first-round picks in 2007. So if the Knicks win the lottery, the Bulls get the No. 1 pick. The Knicks also gave up their second-round picks in 2007 and 2009.

So in 2010, when Marbury will probably be playing with his 3rd team since being traded from the Knicks, we'll be owing Utah an unprotected #1 pick. At the rate we're going that should be a high lottery pick as well.

So let's sum up:

Isiah has traded our #1 picks in 2006, 2007 and 2010 and they're unprotected. That's one hell of a rebuild. Oh wait, I forgot, Isiah already did his draft homework and said that there wasn't anybody worth drafting with the potential #1 pick this year. Fire Isiah already.

Posted by islesfan:
Isiah has traded our #1 picks in 2006, 2007 and 2010 and they're unprotected. That's one hell of a rebuild.

Also the 2004 pick.

Yeah, one of by big gripes with Layden was he was supposed to be a good drafter, but he proceeded to trade 4 first rd picks in his 4 years.

Isiah is a good drafter and he's traded 4 in 2 years.

It's a good thing the league puts limits on some of these trades or lord knows what it would be.

Posted by SlimPack:

lets put a couple of things in perspective first, the 2007 #1 pick only goes to chicago if they have a better record than us, also the 2010, is pick that is due to utah every year, but is protected until 2010, meaning if we give them a pick after 22 in 2009, or are a good team 2010, it isnt really that big of deal

wow, someone else with some sense.

Isiah is an idiot

Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by BlueSeats:

Yeah, one of by big gripes with Layden was he was supposed to be a good drafter, but he proceeded to trade 4 first rd picks in his 4 years.

Isiah has also obtained via trades 3 1st rd picks. I want the Knicks to get good young players. It doesn't have to be via the draft. I like how we're setup at the 4 and 5 with Frye and Curry. Isiah needs to get more players at 1 through 3. It doesn't have to be via draft.

Yeah Bonn, folks forget the full picture of things. Gotta mention the picks he got back too, and if we get value for Penny/AD/MoT with their expiring deals, those figure in too.

Posted by Bonn1997:

Isiah has also obtained via trades 3 1st rd picks.
[Edited by - Bonn1997 on 01-02-2006 1:01 PM]

There you go with your Logic for Dummies or Isiah Sycophants again. Equating the potential #1 overall pick to the 29th pick just because they're both "1st rd picks" is beyond stupid.

Posted by SlimPack:

actaully what I should say is, if we are a good enough team to give utah a pick after 23 in 2008, or are a good enough team to give utah a pick after 22 in 2009, or are a good team in 2010, its not that big a deal, in either case we have all the way until 2010 to be a good team to avoid giving utah a high pick so Im too worried about that pick, still though isiah sure did gamble with the eddy curry trade, but I think we'll be a good team by next year. but maybe Im just sippin the koolaid

[Edited by - slimpack on 01-02-2006 1:02 PM]

Does anybody see this getting that much better over the next 3 years that we'd have the 7th-8th best record in the league where we'd be giving up the pick to Utah any earlier?

The longer Isiah is here the better the chances that we'll be giving up ANOTHER unprotected 1st rd pick in 2010.


[Edited by - islesfan on 01-02-2006 1:58 PM]

Well obviously the pick we give up is gonna be better than one of the SA picks. But honestly, most thought we'd be at 500 now and so you can't say Isiah was giving up the #1 pick when he made that trade. Also, the season isn't nearly over. If we don't get the #1 pick, then your post is incorrect, so as much as you'd like us to don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by Bonn1997:

Isiah has also obtained via trades 3 1st rd picks.
[Edited by - Bonn1997 on 01-02-2006 1:01 PM]

There you go with your Logic for Dummies or Isiah Sycophants again. Equating the potential #1 overall pick to the 29th pick just because they're both "1st rd picks" is beyond stupid.

Posted by jaydh:

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by Bonn1997:

Isiah has also obtained via trades 3 1st rd picks.
[Edited by - Bonn1997 on 01-02-2006 1:01 PM]

There you go with your Logic for Dummies or Isiah Sycophants again. Equating the potential #1 overall pick to the 29th pick just because they're both "1st rd picks" is beyond stupid.

well if you want to mention the picks we traded, you have to mention the ones we got.

Ok, we got the very last pick in the first rd last year and we're likely to get the second to last pick this year. We also traded 3 2nd rd picks that are potentially just a few picks after we'll be using those end of the 1st rd picks.

Feel better now?