Marc Stein: Good morning. Welcome back to chatland. To the questions . . .




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Adam (Poughkeepsie): I know you're sick of it. I'm sick of it. Everyone's sick of it. But since it seems like nothing's going to happen on the NBA trade market until Donnie Walsh makes his move, where do you think Artest will end up? Do you think we'll see a complicated, multi-team move?

Marc Stein: I've always thought a three-way was the most likely scenario. If it's Denver, considered a leading contender by pretty much every exec I speak to, it almost has to be a three-way. The scenario where Nene and Watson go to Atlanta and Harrington goes to Indy -- with Ron-Ron going to the Nuggets -- makes some sense for all parties. But don't rule out Minnesota. I keep hearing about the Wolves as a darkhorse and they do have the pieces to deal with Indy straight-up. On a side issue, why are you sick of this? The trade fun has just started. The season was off to a rather sleepy start before Riles and Artest took over.


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Dan (Chattanooga, TN): What happened to all of the player movement around the 15th?

Marc Stein: No one ever promised you a lot of movement. Teams just like to wait until the 15th because a lot more players are available, thus giving them more potential trade pieces. It's actually rare that we see a flurry of moves because teams are only just getting to the point that they think they've seen enough of their rosters and feel ready to make changes. I'm sure we'll see a few moves, but I agree with the previous poster that Artest probably has to happen first.


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Jesse (Detroit): Forget the all-star game, why has there been no MVP consideration for Chauncey Billups?

Marc Stein: The Pistons are still seen as an ensemble cast even with Billups playing the best ball of his life. I'd be surprised if he cracks the MVP top-five. But an NBA Finals MVP trophy ain't a bad consolation prize. And he will be an All-Star for sure, barring injury, so you can indeed stop that lobbying.


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JW (Houston): The Rockets went 5-1 on a 12 day, 6 game roadie on the west coast...seems like they should be a few spots higher.

Marc Stein: Can't bump them up in the rankings when they lose Yao for six weeks. No matter how hot they are. It's almost faster to count up the healthy guys in Houston as opposed to running through all the injuries.


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Carter (Mile High City): Is Nene still tradeable given his injury status? I mean are teams actually considering giving up talent for an unproven and injured big man? Are there any teams more desperate than the Nuggs who are willing to give up a quality player for Nene and Earl Watson? I think all of the trade rumors surrounding these players are silly.

Marc Stein: Nene is still a major commodity. Doctors project a full recovery and, unlike the microfracture surgery that freaks everyone out, the big Brazilian is dealing with a more standard knee tear. It would be an absolute coup for the Hawks to get him, even if it's a deal that excludes Artest -- as in Nene and Watson for Harrington straight-up.


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Pete (Philly): A.I. for MVP? How is there any other choice with his numbers? 33ppg, 7.5 ast, 2.2 spg, .447 shooting %,43 mpg, and you KNOW the sixers are gonna win that division. Elton Brand is a nice story, but he's got pretty good veteran help, Bron Bron has worse numbers in nearly every category and better teammates. C'mon, this shouldn't even be close right now!

Marc Stein: You're right. It's not close at the one-quarter pole. But the MVP is none of those guys you mention. One-fourth of the way in, Nowitzki has to be the MVP. Dallas hasn't had its full team yet and doesn't know who the No. 2 option will be from night to night. Nowitzki is throwing up flurries of 30-point games and keeping the Mavs in the same sentence with Detroit and San Antonio when no one -- not even the Mavs themselves -- expected to be there.


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Terrance (Tempe, AZ): Any word on Amare's rehab? I think everyone in the league is anxious to see if he can return to the form that made him look like he could be one of the all time greats

Marc Stein: Every time I ask, the word is that Amare is progressing better than the Suns could have hoped. But if it were my team, I'd still plan on asking Amare to consider sitting out the season. Nothing that can happen this season is worth messing with that all-time great future.


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Jason (Dallas, TX): Everyone seems to love the Mavs as they are, but other than Dirk, who do they have that can actually shoot? Do you see them making minor moves or a blockbuster that Cuban seems to enjoy?

Marc Stein: Eventually, yes. Mavs know they need at least one more major piece to contend with the Spurs. And they have a couple chips, with the Van Horn and Terry expiring contracts and Stackhouse as a last-year guy next season. But they're going to be patient and give any potential deal extra consideration because the chemistry is so good now and the youngsters around Dirk (Howard, Harris and Daniels) are all making tangible progress.


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Dan (Chattanooga, TN): What is Seattle's plan? Why am I hearing rumors of Rashard Lewis being expendable?

Marc Stein: No one ever said he's expendable. But Seattle's financial situation isn't the best and there is always a sense -- or, more accurately, a hope from rival GMs -- that the Sonics will dump Allen or Lewis to slash payroll. If Seattle wants to be a contender, obviously it needs to add to Ray and Rashard.


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Chris (Lakewood, OH): Any chance the Cavaliers can pry P.J. Brown away from the Hornets?

Marc Stein: It's a long, long line. Every playoff team would love to swipe PJ from the Hornets. But I don't see them making him available as long as the team continues to flirt with .500. I'm sure you know about PJ's strong Louisiana ties, and beyond that he's pretty happy mentoring Paul and the rest of the Hornets' kids. He doesn't want to leave and the Hornets don't want to move him.


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Majik (WI): Who will be the NBA Final's MVP this year, TJ Ford or Mo Williams?

Marc Stein: I thought everyone could use a laugh while I'm scrolling through questions.


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Kevin (LA): Are the Clippers really considering offering Maggette for Artest? That'd be a very good return for the Pacers.

Marc Stein: Like every team, the Clips have weighed the pros and cons of bringing Artest in. But if Indy comes out of this with someone as good as Maggette -- or a Peja -- I'd be shocked. It's hard for me to imagine teams parting with a known asset at that level for one of the wildest cards ever.


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Andrew (DC): What's up with the Wizards?

Marc Stein: I ask myself the same thing every time they lose. There are rumblings about Arenas monopolizing the ball, but I don't think it's that simple. They're struggling for production at the 2 and obviously need more up front, but even without Hughes, I saw the Wiz as no worse as a .500 team. What they did against the Spurs and Pistons would seem to back that up.


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Reggie (Orlando): How can you call Peja a *known asset?* He's an aging one-dimensional player who vanishes in the playoffs. . .the Kings would be lucky to deal him for Artest. . .

Marc Stein: Whether you like Peja or not, he's one of the best shooters in the league and a recent All-Star. And if you're going to trade him instead of re-sign him, you'd be wise to do so for a guy who might actually be dependable enough to play most of the games.


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Raymond (mi): Are you looking forward to xmas day game between pistons/spurs as much as I am? Its gonna be one heck of a game... Move it to primetime and bump the other game :P

Marc Stein: I wish they were both in prime time. I guarantee they'll both be better than whatever gridiron football is foisted upon the nation that evening.


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Tony (Seattle): Which Knick goes first? Brown, Marbury or Thomas. No cheating and saying Jerome James. -t

Marc Stein: Interesting brain-teaser. I'm sure the Knicks would love to make it Marbury, but his contract -- even in these times when it seems like there's a way to trade pretty much anyone -- strikes me as especially hard to move. So I would have to say Zeke. Good one, though. Given Larry's health issues, you could make a case for any of the three.


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Herm (Encino): CAL STATE FULLERTON! Hi, Marc, from one SoCal guy to another -- however the Artest situation resolves itself in Indiana, reports were the Lakers were willing to offer a package for Artest which included Andrew Bynum. If you're Mitch Kupchak, do you even make that offer?

Marc Stein: Bynum is TOO far away to interest Indy. The Pacers would love a young guy and and some tax relief to go with it -- which is why I believe a package of McCants and Olowokandi would give the Wolves a good shot -- but Bynum is years away. That said, I liked that pick when the Lakers made it. They're swinging big -- Kwame, Bynum -- because they know they have to hit home runs. That's why they want Artest, too. The Lakers realize that saving cap room for a maybe run at Chris Bosh is a tough sell to their fans. Better to take risks and see if Phil can mold these guys into a winner.

Marc Stein: As disappointing as Swift has been in Houston, he's virtually the Rockets' only power player who isn't hurt. Houston wasn't willing to move him before Yao and Deke won't down and now even less so.


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Mark Alpert: Thanks for the gratuitous swipe at UC Irvine in a recent Power Rankings. As a Clippers fan you obviously have some sort of inferiority complex. Couldn't get into a decent university Mr. Stein?

Marc Stein: Got into USC, Boston U and NYU -- all better schools than UCI. I chose to go to Fullerton instead because it is the Harvard of the West for journalism students. And if UCI is so great, what's wrong with your reading comprehension? I'm a Buffalo Braves fan, which I've only written about a million times. Not a Clippers fan.

Marc Stein: Thanks to all for your good questions. We'll do it again soon. Don't forget to check in every Friday for my weekend around-the-league edition of the Dime.