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djsunyc
Posts: 44929
Alba Posts: 42
Joined: 1/16/2004
Member: #536
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Chad Ford: Hey everyone. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hannukah. It's been unusually quiet given the amount of parity and turmoil going on around the league. Let's try to stir some stuff up. We'll do NBA the first half and draft the second, so send in your questions.
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Ronny, IN: Where am I going and when am I going to get there ... Tru Warrior?
Chad Ford: I think the Warriors are the best fit and have the most to offer the Pacers in return. I like trades where everyone wins and I think Golden State has the goods to make it happen. My runner up is Memphis.
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bill, minneapolis: Hi Chad- Any update on Artest coming to Minnesota?
Chad Ford: I keep hearing this rumor, but don't get it. The Pacers are trying to shy away from players who are unreliable and the three most often mentioned coming from Minnesota -- Olowokandi, Eddie Griffin and Rashad McCants -- all have a history of being totally unreliable. Unless a third teams gets involved, I don't see how Minnesota is a player. If the Pacers have to settle for some combo of Olowokandi, McCants and/or Griffin, they'd be better off keeping Artest and getting counseling for Jermaine O'Neal.
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Jeff (Indy): What if Ron Artest is right? The Pacers offense does stink. Looks to me that Carlisle has never wanted Artest and ran him off. This team stinks without Artest. Why would the Pacers want to be a middle of the road team just to make O'Neal happy? Don't forget, Detroit ran Carlisle off for a reason and it wasn't just Larry Brown.
Chad Ford: You have a point. Carlisle's stubborness did get him kicked to the curb in Detroit. However, I think he's done a great job with what he has. Artest was the teams second best scorer and nearly as important as Jermaine O'Neal. Everyone else on the team were supporting players specifically picked to support those two. With Artest gone, I'm not surprised they're struggling. The good news for the Pacers is that I believe Danny Granger has the potential to be an All-Star someday. If they're patient, I think they've already found their Artest replacement..
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Phil, LA: Should the Lakers trade Odom?
Chad Ford: I don't get the hostility toward Odom. He leads the team in rebounding and assists and is the team's second best scorer. He plays just about every position on the floor for the Lakers and it's difficult to get 15 to 20 shots a night when you have a teammate who rountinely takes 30+. In other words, I don't think Odom is the issue. He's unselfish and helps them in so many ways. He's the one high priced player that I think Indiana should seriously consider ... he'd be a great fit in Indy. With that said, if I'm the Lakers, there's no way I trade Odom for Artest.
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Brian (SLC, UT): What is the deal with Boozer? Rumors in SLC say he is back soon. With a healthy AK-47 and Okur playing a near all-star season, could Boozer put us back in the playoffs?
Chad Ford: I'm not sure how Boozer fits. Okur is MUCH more comfortable playing the four. His numbers will suffer if he's forced to move back to the five. If the Jazz aren't already shopping him, they should be. I'm sure the Knicks would love another huge contract.
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Rem Rochester NY: Who should the NJ Nets get at PF to be one of the elite team in the East?
Chad Ford: I think Chris Wilcox is really under rated. He's a four that doesn't get a lot of run because Elton Brand is so good at the same position. On a team like the Nets, I think he'd be a great fit. The problem for New Jersey is what to offer back ...What about first round pick Antoine Wright (who the Clippers really liked in the draft process) and Lamond Murray?
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Jayme, NH: Do you see the Celtics Making any moves to improve there teams chances of making the playoffs? Time for Blount, Raef, Banks to be moved?
Chad Ford: They could start by giving Al Jefferson more minutes. He has the highest PER of any of the Celtics big men -- by far, yet he doesn't get the minutes. Doc Rivers has to find a way to get more minutes. Maybe Danny Ainge should help him out by moving Blount or Raef to free up more minutes. The problem is that both of those contracts scare off just about everyone in the league.
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Steve (Norwalk, CT): Who is to blame for the Knicks MISERABLE season? Larry for using some horrible rotations? Isiah for assembling this awful team? Steph for not giving a damn about anything?
Chad Ford: You seem to have found enough blame to go around. The roster is a mess, we all knew that Steph and Larry wouldn't get along and Brown is the wrong coach for a team like this. If the Knicks knew he'd stick with for 5 years ... sure, he's rebuilt teams in the past. But I think it's very questionable that he's in New York for more than two years, the Knicks don't have much flexibility to make changes and most of the players on the roster don't fit what Larry Brown likes. In other words, the train wreck that is the Knicks is now complete. It will only get worse this summer when the Bulls take a potential No. 1 pick in the draft away from the Knicks.
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Chris (NYC): Do you suppose the front-of-the-site article on the Pistons will give us at least a day's reprieve from complaints by Michigan residents that they don't get enough coverage?
Chad Ford: No ... see below.
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Sharif (Bay City, MI: Hey Chad, I don't think the Pistons could or should go for 70+ wins (they'll hit in the mid-60's). I'm afraid at the pace they are working their starters, that they are going to get tired. Is it time to trade Darko or another Piston for some Front Court Help now?
Chad Ford: You know things are going great when you start worrying about too much success. However, your point is well taken. Flip has to find time to work in his rotation players, especially against teams like the Raptors. Why were all the starters out there on the floor in the fourth with a comfortable lead? What happened to the pre-season pledge to get Darko some meaningful minutes? It's not a big deal now because the Pistons are playing fantastic basketball. But if an injury occurs or if guys get worn out ... it will come back to haunt them. An NBA title is more important than a 70 win season.
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Pierre, France: Having watch Boris Diaw play my entire life ... what the hell has gotten into him in Phoenix. I always thought he was a nice player, but he's been amazing.
Chad Ford: I saw him too for several years in France and while I could always see the talent, he never seemed to have that killer instinct that would make him a great player. I think you have to credit Mike D'Antoni. He finda ways to put his players in a position where they succeed. Instead of getting negative with them, he stays positive and they seem to blossom. When Boris gets that next big contract, he should send Mike a big cut of it. I'd love to see what he could do with other players who have major confidence problems like Kwame Brown and Darko.
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Chad (Pittsburg, CA): Is it true Seattle will swap Flip Murray for Earl Watson from Denver? How will that help for both team?
Chad Ford: Heard that as well. Interesting deal. The Sonics have found out how valuable having a change of pace point guard like Antonio Daniels was. Luke Ridnour is good, but he's got some big holes in his game. Watson is a great defender who seems to have improved his jump shot this year. It's a great deal for Seattle if they can get it. I wonder if Denver isn't settling a bit. Murray is a big time scorer if you let him loose, but I think the Nuggets need someone even better on the perimeter if they want to compete for a championship. I'm not sure I'd pull the trigger just yet on that deal. I wonder if there might be more to this deal than is being reported with Denver taking Artest, Seattle taking Watson, and Indiana taking Murray, Nick Collison and an expiring contract or two.
Chad Ford: Let's turn our gaze to the draft for the last 15 minutes ...
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Chris Fedail (Diamond Bar, CA): Chad, Considering the Bulls get a top 3 pick in the draft, who would you see them picking up? LaMarcus Aldridge or maybe a trade package?
Chad Ford: I think they need to get either a low post scorer or big two guard who can defend. With those two needs in mind, I like LaMarcus Aldridge and Ronnie Brewer. Brewer especially would be a good fit given his size and his ability to play the one and the two.
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James (Kankakee, IL): Where do you see Dee Brown being Drafted?
Chad Ford: He's been playing more like a point guard lately and everyone likes his speed and his heart, but his lack of size and his atrocious shooting will hurt him come draft day. My guess is that he's a late, late first round pick or a second rounder.
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Jason (Indpls): Who gets Reddick and Morrison?
Chad Ford: Morrison probably goes top 5. I could see the Raptors, Blazers and Bobcats all falling in love with him. As for Reddick, I see him more as a late teens to early 20s pick. Maybe a team like the Nets or Lakers.
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Jeremy (Portland, Or): Is Hassan Adams of Arizona as good as Richard Jefferson, and will he be selected in the 1st round?
Chad Ford: I think he's a bubble first rounder. The problem is that Adams can't really shoot but he THINKS he can. He's a little undersized to play anything but the two. Still scouts love his athleticism, his strength and how hard he plays on every play.
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kunal (detroit, mi): Maurice Ager has really stepped up his game. Where do you see him going?
Chad Ford: He's probably moved himself all the way into the late lottery. He's got a great combo of athleticism and shooting. He's a little undersized, but his game makes up for it. He'd be a good fit on the Jazz.
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Eno (Jersey City): Is Rondo the answer for ATL? or should they go big?
Chad Ford: I think Rondo is an excellent fit for the Hawks ... not as good as Chris Paul, but still a good fit. He's super fast, an excellent defender and can get to the basket. He's not a great shooter, but paired in the backcourt with Joe Johnson, that shouldn't be an issue.
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Brian (Memphis): Shawne Williams won't be back next year...Where do you see him going...mid 1st round?
Chad Ford: Yes, mid first round. He needs another year or two of school, but he's played well enough this year and has all of the tools scouts look for in a small forward.
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C.C. (Bay Point, CA): Do you see Darius Washington Jr. a top first round pick? Maybe to a team like Atlanta? Toronto?
Chad Ford: I don't see it. He's more of a scoring guard along the lines of Stephon Marbury. Five years ago that may have gotten him into the lottery. But most GMs have soured on players like that. I think he's a first rounder, but later in the first.
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C.C. (Bay Point, CA): Despite playing off the bench for Memphis, do you see Rodney Carney being a first round pick?
Chad Ford: It's the Memphis trifecta. Carney is one of the top athletes in the draft and has really improved his jumper. The issue for him is consistency and a killer instict. He tends to disappear in big games and won't always take over. On talent he's a lottery pick ... but I think enough scouts believe he's soft that he may slip into the mid first round.
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Evan (IN): Who do you feel is the best player in the draft that is really getting no buzz?
Chad Ford: It might be Florida's Al Horford. He's raw, especially on the offensive end, but he's got the prototypical body for an NBA power forward. Several scouts say he reminds them of a young Amare Stoudemire. Given the dearth of big men in the draft, I think he could end up going higher than his numbers suggest.
Chad Ford: Alright everyone, get questions today. Let's do it again next week. Happy New Year everyone.
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12/29/2005 1:56 PM
