SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:00 AM ET ) Hello, all. Thanks for joining us again. Let's get right to it.

Joseph (Colorado Springs, CO): Hey Marc! You mentioned in your power rankings that Steve Francis playing in Denver doesn't appeal to you. Why is that? Wouldn't the franchise be a good fit at the shooting guard position in Denver? They still struggle to find a consistent shooting guard.

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:04 AM ET ) There are already rumblings in Denver that the PGs they have are shooting too much. Can't see how a guy like Francis, who wants the ball in his hands, would be good for 'Melo. I can't imagine a much more unappealing match. But Furious George loves talent. He thinks he can make anything work if you give him the talent. But I believe Denver is lucky if this whole idea stays dead, as it appears to be now.

Matt - Denver: What do you think the chances of the Nuggets trading K-Mart?

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:07 AM ET ) With K-Mart's recent injury history and his contract, I would have said NIL a week ago. But he's young enough that teams are considering it.

Pat (New York, New York): Marc, please tell me Isiah isn't going to trade Channing Frye essentially for Kenyon Martin! If he does, does the past 8 or so years of the Knicks go down as the worst run franchise in sports history? At least Donald Sterling wasn't shelling out millions for his losses.

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:15 AM ET ) I don't believe the Knicks are foolish enough to think that swinging a couple moves before the deadline will take the focus off Isiah's off-court concerns. I can only imagine that the Knicks are thinking that, if Larry is your coach -- and IF you're CONVINCED he's going to be there for a while -- you've got to look for veterans because he's not the guy to coach kids. If that's NOT their thinking, I can't even pretend to try to explain their thinking. Let's face it: They get torched every time they add salary, but they've apparently got enough money to do it and they're so far over the cap that it would take quite a long time to tear the whole thing down.

Howard (Omaha, NE): Marc, First: do you agree that Isaiah will not be at MSG next year? And, if not, who might replace him?

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:17 AM ET ) My man Bucher had a great suggestion on NBA Fastbreak on Sunday night. If the Knicks are going to make a GM change, they have to go after Knicks-ex Kiki Vandeweghe. But I'd say the same for any team that's looking for a GM. Kiki is a free agent at season's end and anyone with an opening should be targeting him.

Steve, Wichita: Who is going to be Finals MVP, T-Mac or Yao Ming

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:18 AM ET ) Good one. How 'bout Chuck Hayes? I am willing to buy the notion that the Rockets can still sneak into the eighth spot if T-Mac and Yao can stay on the floor for the rest of the season. But they're not beating the Spurs in the first round. Or the Mavs. Or the Suns if they get as high as seventh somehow.

Marcos(Brazil): Marc, let's suppose that you are the Clippers head coach, And you finish in the fifth place in the West. Which team you prefer to play against in first round: SA or Dallas?Why?

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:19 AM ET ) Unless you know for sure that Duncan and/or Ginobili are particularly hobbled, you still have to say Mavs.

Chad: Minneapolis, MN: With the recent play of Marcus Banks on the Wolves, is this just a ploy for making him more tradable or is he in the long term plans for the Wolves. It seems to me that he is a perfect fit for this team. More so than Jaric, Hudson, or AC. Your thoughts?

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:21 AM ET ) Perfect is overstating it. But the Wolves like him. They aren't eager to move him. He's still not an ideal PG when it comes to running an offense, but Banks gives the Wolves speed and athleticism they've lacked in the backcourt for a long time.

DEVIN BROOKS: DEARBORN HEIGHTS,MI: Hey Marc, Can I ask you something: Why in the world would you put Chris B and D Howard in the East All-Stars over Sheed and maybe Tay? Those guys are on losing teams and I thought you want the fan to understand that if you win then good things come your way. Chris and Howard will have others chances to make the all-star game.

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:27 AM ET ) Because as good as Detroit has been, I don't subscribe to the Vote For Every Piston theory. Three All-Stars from Detroit is enough and I'd take Ben over 'Sheed. Your last point probably motivated me as much as anything. I don't like hearing how young guys should be excluded because they have plenty of time to make subsequent All-Star Games. This is a bigger issue in the West because I think a deserving Chris Paul will probably lose out to Ray Allen because of such thinking.

Jim (Big D): You going to watch Mavs vs. Kobe III tonight?

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:28 AM ET ) Yes. I'll be there. Full report coming in tonight's Daily Dime. And I can't see Kobe scoring more than, say, 57.

Jerome (Davenport, FL): Marc, if Wade took 28 shots a game and averaged 35 points would he finally get some MVP consideration? He is a great all around player on a division leading team who gets the entire team involved but he doesn't get any MVP talk.

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:29 AM ET ) D-Wade has as many admirers as any young player in the league. But the Heat are underachieving. So how can they have an MVP candidate?

nick(brooklyn): do you think elton brand will get snubbed from the allstar game?

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:29 AM ET ) No chance. He's in for sure.

Rob (Clarkston): I know that the coachs vote for the all-star subs, but do they only vote within their own conference or the whole league?

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:30 AM ET ) Only within their own conference.

Brian (Lawrence, KS): No one wants to deal with Thorn after the Vince deal, huh? Are there any big men he can realistically get before the deadline or this summer?

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:31 AM ET ) That's a nice theory, but that's not the reason the Nets haven't been able to get an athletic big. Other teams simply have more trade assets at the minute.

Neil (Queens, NY): Did J.R. Smith kick Byron Scott's dog or something? I know Scott loves playing Claxton and Paul together but Smith has been totally kicked to the curb. What gives?

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:34 AM ET ) He's a shooting guard who doesn't consistently make shots. That's issue No. 1. And Speedy has been so good that you have to find a way to get him on the floor more if you want to make the playoffs. And the Hornets want to.

Sam (NY): So, was KG's block a goaltend last night? Also, given how many tough losses the Suns have had this year, couldn't you make the case that their record could be the same as the Mavs and Spurs with a little luck? They could be unstoppable with Amare, don't you think?

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:37 AM ET ) You could make that case after the first few heartbreakers Phoenix lost, but they've lost six or seven games now decided by three points or less. So it's gotten to the point that they need to win a few close ones immediately to get over this thing. As for the block . . . I'm leaning goaltend but I've watched it a bunch of times and can't convince myself. Couldn't have been a fun call to make in real time.

James (San Antonio): Marc how do you not bump the Pistons after a week like that. San Antonio and Dallas are playing better right now. Do you think Tony Parker will get snubbed this year by the coaches?

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:45 AM ET ) Part of the problem: Can you conclusively say the Mavs are playing better than the Spurs right now? I say no. Another big factor: Detroit has had the kind of start that requires a different approach for the committee (of one). At 39-6, they were one of only six teams in history to start that well through 45 games . . . and the other five all went on to be champions with astronomical win totals. When they dropped to 39-7, it's not like now you see them in a totally different light. Don't forget that the famed 72-win Bulls actually lost two games in a ROW that season to drop from 41-3 to 41-5. I don't think Power Rankings existed a decade ago, but I'm pretty sure the Bulls would have stayed at No. 1 after their losing streak.

Jeremy (Toronto): Hey Marc, with the cap room the Raps now have, would they be able to lock up Bosh and James long-term and still have money for Nene? Do they need Nene when they've got Pape Sow? Thanks.

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:47 AM ET ) Noble attempt to pay tribute to our Titan pal Pape but, yes, Toronto needs Nene. Bosh needs someone bigger at his side and Nene is the best (gettable) free agent on the board. They can wait to sign Bosh to his extension after using up the cap room, but they'll need to move out Eric Williams as well to have room to sign someone at the Nene level and hang onto James.

SportsNation Marc Stein: (11:48 AM ET ) Good questions as always. We'll do it again next week.