SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:02 PM ET ) Welcome everyone. I always want to say there's a lot going on ... and Antonio Davis provided us with some fodder ... but still nothing on Artest. Let's roll...

Ryan (Philly): You knew this question was going to be asked, but if you're David Stern, how do you handle the Antonio Davis situation?

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:04 PM ET ) Suspend him one game. There is arule and Davis broke it so there has to be a suspension. But this situation, beyond surface appearances, is nothing like the Artest one. I know Stern loves to send messages, but I hope he sends one that's understanable. Any suspension that's stricter (Chris Sheridan is saying 8 games) doesn't make sense unless Stern feels that Davis is lying about why he went into the stands.

Darrin, Chicago IL: Why is there so much being made about Antonio Davis' action last night? I know the NBA is trying to send a message, but as a man, I'd be concerned if he hadn't been concerned about his wife. He showed that his priorities are in order. Basketball or any job should come second to family.

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:08 PM ET ) I agree. Who wouldn't have done the same thing. What kind of behavior will Stern deter by punishing Davis severely. Does he really think NBA players, in the future, won't go into the stands to protect their family? C'mon. You've also got to take into account that Davis has a stellar reputation on and off the court, that he's a local guy who loves the fans in Chicago and most importantly ... he didn't head into the stands out of control or with the intent of busting some heads. He was just trying to protect his wife and he did it in a nonviolent way. I actually believe that Davis did the right thing all the way around.

Anthony ((Oneonta, NY)): Why is ESPN covering this like it was Detroit - Indianna all over again? Anyone that saw this live knows it wasn't even remotely close to that. M. Taloy with Duhon scuffle was more of an incident. This is why people say that the media is just as much at fault as the people who do things like Artest did.

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:10 PM ET ) It's not just ESPN Anthony. But your point is well taken. How could Stern justify suspending players who try to beat each other up 3 to 5 games and then turn around and give a more severe penalty to Davis , who was actually acting as a peacemaker in a potentially dangerous situation. I understand why Stern has the rule. He's trying to protect the fans AND the players. Once the player crosses into the stands (or the fan onto the court) anything can happen. However, there are mitigating circumstances and, if you believe Davis, he had a very good one.

Mike (Boston): The new rumor out of the Boston Newspapers is Ainge is trying to trade Gerald Green for Robert Swift...Is it like most rumors and just something made up or is it the real dael?

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:13 PM ET ) I haven't heard that Mike, but it doesn't surprise me. Danny loves Robert Swift and hasn't been enamored with Green in the early going -- he's just too raw to do anything for this team right now. I fully expect him to move Mark Blount if he can get an expiring contract in return. That's a great deal for Danny and a shaky deal for whoever swallows Blount's huge contract.

Josh Meyer (Fort Dodge) IA: Do you see my Wolves pursuing Steve Francis or Paul Pierce before the trade deadline?

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:16 PM ET ) I think they'd take anything at this point. They need to add another star quality player who can create his own shot and are getting desperate (the Blount to Minny rumors confirm that). The question is whether they have anything of value to get a player like that. They have Michael Olowokandi's expiring contract ... but not much else. Wally Szczerbiak is having a career year, but most GMs still think he's overpaid ... and if you move Wally, you're taking an awfully big step backward. In other words, the player that you replace him with better be a lot better.

Travis (Canada): A rumor I heard late last night was Mike James for Steve Francis and then Toronto was going to flip Francis and a power forward for Kandi man from Minny. Your thoughts?

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:20 PM ET ) Honestly, Mike James has more trade value than Steve Francis at the moment. Better contract (and in the last year) and he's having a better all around year. I think Orlando will try to move Francis. At this point they have one great young player, Dwight Howard, and another nice one in Jameer Nelson. If they could move Francis, save a little salary, and get a young prospect I think they'd jump at the chance. I would think that Denver and Minnesota would have the most interest, but I'm not sure either team has the goods to get a deal done.

Alex (Los Angeles): With all due respect to another great season from Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant has put the Lakers on his shoulders and has them 1/2 game out of the 6th spot in the West. How is he not getting more MVP consideration?

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:22 PM ET ) His reputation and the ball hogging. However, if the Lakers keep winning, he deserves serious consideration and Phil Jackson should be near the front of the line for Coach of the Year honors. This Lakers team isn't very good, has holes that a semi could drive through, yet they keep finding a way. Jackson, Kobe and Lamar Odom deserve enormous credit for that.

Dan (NYC): What do you think about moving Wally and Jaric for Marbury?

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:22 PM ET ) I would do it in a second if I were the Knicks.

Doug (Kalamazoo (Michigan)): Ballhogging? LOL What's he supposed to do? And you are an NBA Expert? Please!

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:26 PM ET ) Read John Hollinger's recent piece on the subject. Using statistical date, Hollinger came to the conclusion that Kobe is one pace to have the greatest ball hogging (he calls it usage rate) season.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&id=2267417

Steve (Austin): MVP's make their teammates better. All Kobe's teammates get better at is high-fiving Kobe while not meaning it.

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:26 PM ET ) Here we go ...

Colin (Fairfax, VA): With the Wiz buying out the contract of Chucky Adkins, what is next for him? And more importantly what is next for the Wiz? Do they search out a replacement, because when he did want to play he was a great contributer

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:28 PM ET ) I'm a little surprised Ernie Grunfeld did that just because Atkins was a trade asset being in the last year of his contract. I think he just came to the conclusion that he didn't want anything in return for him anyway, so he was able to save some money by buying out the contract. It looks like the Grizzlies are the front runners to add him. As for the Wizards, they need to add a defensive presence in the backcourt. Antonio Daniels has been a disappointment.

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:29 PM ET ) You have to wonder who good this team would've been had they paid Larry Hughes and then added Caron Butler via the Kwame Brown trade. I think they would've been very tough.

Robert (Philadelphia, PA): Chad, is it too early to label Lebron as a guy who can't quite win the big one? There was a stat in daily dime that said that Lebron is now 2-15 on game tying or winning FGs late in games while Carmelo is 7-11. I think Lebron is similar to Peyton Manning in that they put up huge stats but cannot win the big ones when they count. What do you think

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:30 PM ET ) It's too early.

Jonathan (Metairie, LA): The HORNETS are .500. Can you believe it?

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:31 PM ET ) No ... but it makes a great case for Chris Paul to be on the All-Star team. He's been amazing and has proven how valuable a great point guard can be to a young franchise (are you still reading Billy Knight and John Nash?)

Tim (Indy): How much longer do you think the pacers can continue to play without unloading Artest to get something back for him?

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:34 PM ET ) They actually seem to be doing just fine with out them. Last time I checked their a fourth seed ... exactly where many thought they'd be come playoff time. Would they like to move Artest? Sure. But I don't think anyone's panicking right now.

Shaun , Midland, Ontario: Is there an overwhelming consensus # 1 draft pick this year? I've heard that it's going to be a weaker draft and I was just hoping you could shed some light on the subject, and if you wouldn't mind telling us your projected top 5 players.

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:37 PM ET ) There is a lot of depth in the draft, but it doesn't look like there are a lot of prospects who will step in and help turn around your team the way that Chris Paul has.

I put out a new Top 100 this morning. You can access it by clicking on the draft link at the top of the NBA page. My top 5 are:

1. LaMarcus Aldridge
2. Andrea Bargnani
3. Adam Morrison
4. Rudy Gay
5. Tyrus Thomas

Ron in Tucson: Is the 2006 draft so weak that teams in the 20's will be trying to dump picks so they won't have to give guaranteed contracts?

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:39 PM ET ) No. Most GMs and scouts believe the draft is quite deep and that you'll find good players even in the second round. The problem is that they don't see a whole lot of difference between the 9th pick in the draft and the 29th pick. A lot of parity. I think you will see teams trying to move out of the lottery this year. The 2007 draft looks a lot stronger thanks in part to a pretty stellar high school class this year that will be ineligble for the 2006 draft because of the new age restriction.

Eric (Tampa): Nobody thought Chris Paul was going to come in and have this kind of impact, either. Face it. When there aren't any LeBron's or Tim Duncan's the draft is just a collection of similar talent in which one GM prefers something one guys does over another.

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:41 PM ET ) That's not totally true. A number of scouts said (and we wrote this all last year) that Paul was the best point guard prospect since Jason Kidd. This is just a case of where a few GMs wiffed because they wanted size or felt they had better options at the point.

Dennis (Newington, CT): I know a lot of scouts are downgrading Rudy Gay's draft stock, but I think Gay's game is more suited to the NBA. It reminds me a little bit of Vince Carter when he was at UNC. Rudy's a good player but doesn't dominate, but once he gets to the NBA he'll have more room to slash and get to the basket with less zone defenses.

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:43 PM ET ) You're probably right. The way UConn runs their offense isn't a perfect fit for Gay's skills. He's got all the physical tools to be an awesome NBA player. The question, and scouts have had all year since a so-so performance for Team USA in the juniors, is whether Gay was the type of guy who will take over a game and try to dominate. Until he gets more agressive putting the ball on the floor, scouts are going to have their doubts. Still, let's keep it in perspective. Even with the concerns about his game, he's probably a Top 5 player if he comes out.

Mike: (East Brunswick, NJ): Given what is available in the next draft, is it worth it for the Nets to trade one of their number ones for a power forward such as Chris Wilcox

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:46 PM ET ) I would if I were the Nets. I think Wilcox would be a good fit in New Jersey and there just aren't that many athletic bigs in this draft that are even close to being ready. Guys like Tyrus Thomas and Al Horford will go high, but they won't be ready to contribute right away. Wilcox is ready now and still has tremendous upside.

Mike (Boston): Kevin Pittsnogle at #67 come on that guy is got to be in the top 25

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:47 PM ET ) The best shooting big man in college basketball, but he doesn't play defense or rebound. So where do you play him in the NBA? There's not a great track record with these type of players.

Travis (Canada): What center or package of players might the Raptors get for the two first rounders this year, because the only true center available is Paul Davis and they already have a slow white guy in that position?

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:50 PM ET ) The Raptors have to come up with a plan. They need a center and there just aren't any great ones in this year's draft. They're better off trying to package those picks to get one via trade. However, I should point out that Paul Davis isn't a slow white guy. He moves very well.

Micah (Cambridge MA): So Pittsnogle is a big man with a great jump shot who doesn't play defense. How can you think he can't succeed in the NBA? Dirk has been doing exactly that for years.

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:51 PM ET ) He doesn't have the athleticism or all around skills of Dirk.

Chris (NJ): Hey Chad, love your stuff.. Got a Magic question here. Is Fran Vazquez going to ever come and play for the Magic or was that just a wasted pick? And was he even worth the 12th pick? Is there any potential to become the next Pau?

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:52 PM ET ) I wonder. It seems like he's torn between being a star in Europe or a role player in the NBA. The fact that he hasn't improved much this year may lead him to conclude that he's hit the ceiling and may have a better career in Europe. I think this could be a wasted pick for the Magic. It's too bad. They could use another young big to pair alongside Dwight Howard.

Matt, Brooklyn: If Marcus Williams keeps playing like he did against Syracuse, where does he go in the draft?

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:54 PM ET ) That was a great game (14 points, 11 assists). All of the point guard prospects have been a little disappointing this year (see my blog on this topic later today) which leaves an opening for Williams. He's the best "pure" point guard of the group and looks like he's starting to find his stride again at UConn. He's probably a mid first round pick if things keep going well.

Robbie (Chicago): If the bulls getthe first pick of the draft this year who should they take? With the first pick of the 2006 NBA draft the Chicago Bulls select.........

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:56 PM ET ) LaMarcus Aldridge would be a very good fit in Chicago. If they slip a little further down, Ronnie Brewer could give them some size and a defensive presence in their backcourt.

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:57 PM ET ) I've got to run everyone. Another excellent chat. Sorry I can't answer all of your questions. We'll do it again next week, same time, same place.

Dan (NYC): What do you think about moving Wally and Jaric for Marbury?

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:22 PM ET ) I would do it in a second if I were the Knicks.

Interesting. I think Fish proposed that trade a while ago. I like Wally a lot but we'd have a huge void at PG, which is harder to fill than our current void at SF. I don't think it would take Marbury to get Wally anyway, though. This question was probably posed by someone who doesn't like Marbury and wants to get rid of him.

I found it very interesting the many teams may be looking to get out of the lottery because of the amount of parity in the draft talent...Isiah seems to have been thinking this way all along, we'll see how it turns out.

Posted by Bonn1997:

Dan (NYC): What do you think about moving Wally and Jaric for Marbury?

SportsNation Chad Ford: (12:22 PM ET ) I would do it in a second if I were the Knicks.

Interesting. I think Fish proposed that trade a while ago. I like Wally a lot but we'd have a huge void at PG, which is harder to fill than our current void at SF. I don't think it would take Marbury to get Wally anyway, though. This question was probably posed by someone who doesn't like Marbury and wants to get rid of him.

Ford is so biased against Marbury it's a joke. The only way I trade Marbury is if we get a near all-star wing and a mid first round pick or higher.

Marbury for Maggette and a pick I would think about, but Marbury is durable, tough and smarter than he's given credit for. I think he can play at a high level for another four years.