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Chat with Ric Bucher

Welcome to The Show! On Wednesday, ESPN The Magazine Senior NBA Writer Ric Bucher will stop by to take your questions on the latest news and notes, trade rumors, injury updates and more.

Send your questions now and join Ric right here for the answers on Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:06 AM ET ) Hey there, sorry for being a couple of minutes late. Let's get rolling!

Brendan, Philadelphia, PA: What are your thoughts on the current Warriors situation? Where is their future headed and where is Baron Davis' future headed?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:11 AM ET ) Congrats, Brendan, on being the very first question in the queue -- and asking about the team in my backyard. The Warriors are about where I thought they'd be this season, on the outside looking in at a playoff spot. Last year's finish was fool's gold because they were out of the running, playing teams whose season was virtually decided. It's easy to get amped, or be more amped than the opposition, in a situation like that. Baron isn't going anywhere, but I would expect a major deal before or around the draft. The Warriors love the development of Biedrins and Diogu, which makes other pieces expendable.

Rakesh (Detriot): Any word on where Tony Delk will land after clearing waivers? How would he impact the Pistons if they sign him? Would he make the rotation at all?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:15 AM ET ) Three teams have taken a stab at him -- Detroit, Lakers and Miami. The favorite is the Lakers, because they have part of their mid-level exception left to give, whereas Detroit just has the vet minimum. He also knows he'll get more minutes in LA. Detroit needs to reduce the minutes on its starters, but Delk would be strictly an insurance policy behind Lindsey Hunter.

john (new york, ny): Ric, someone told me you mentioned yesterday there are rumors that Larry Brown might be tanking this season so he can become GM. do you think that's true? If so, why would anyone want to be GM of the knicks!

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:20 AM ET ) It's all about power and control, john. he wouldn't be GM, but he'd have a hand in selecting someone who would do his bidding. larry brown hates having anyone restricting which players stay and go and isiah is doing that with him in the same way dumars did it in detroit and croce did in philly. the difference is, larry didn't have a ring yet and knew he had a shot in both those places. he's coming to the end of his career. the perfect scenario is getting isiah out, having a henchman work for a year or two and then graduating to the position himself. being a GM is a lot less exhausting than being a coach.
and for anyone who doesn't think he's tanking, explain to me how a coach as good as larry brown can only have 15 wins. the knicks are an odd mix, but they're not bereft of talent.

Tom (DC): Ric, let's talk about a good team (not the Knicks.) The Wizards are currently the fifth seed in the East. Contender or pretender?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:23 AM ET ) Good idea, Tom. The Wizards are a legit playoff team, but I'd feel a lot better about their chances of doing anymore than they did last year if they played consistent defense. Until Gilbert Arenas steadies his game, they are going to be inconsistent. He's turning into a bit of an AI -- the stability of the team rests on everyone else's shoulders, instead of the star's. That's a tough formula.

Rob (Dallas): Ric- What are your thoughts on the Mavs so far? And more importantly, who's your pick in the big game on thursday???

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:29 AM ET ) I love what the Mavs have become. Cuban has stopped changing the roster every five minutes, they've dropped the emphasis on entertaining basketball and switched to winning basketball and their mental toughness is higher than ever. This is their best chance to reach the finals since I've been covering the L -- and this is how far they've come: I'm not sure who will win their last two games in the regular season vs. the Spurs. I still give SA an edge in postseason experience, should they meet there, but Dallas has an athleticism and depth that could give the Spurs' problems.

Fred (OKC,OK.): Ric - I think David Stern is a good businessman. But why would a good businessman take a franchise (Hornets)from a money making market back to one where they were barely making ends meet back in New Orleans. Is this a PR move? Do you see OKC getting one of the franchises that might relcoate?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:34 AM ET ) Stern is caught in a tough spot here. Staying in OKC is certainly the smart business move, but it would be a disgrace for the league to turn its back on New Orleans after a natural disaster. A pro franchise can do tremendous things to spur a city's economy and NO needs all the help it can get. That said, I can't see the city being able to recover in the next three or four years well enough to host a team again, so Stern is going to do what's best for all involved: put the all-star game there, which will boost the economy, and then announce that it's simply not feasible to put a team back there at this time. Maybe he'll promise an expansion franchise down the line, once the city is back on its feet.
The other problem? He has to hate being on the same side as George Shinn, who wouldn't think twice about turning his back on New Orleans.

Paul (Chicago): Rick, the Pistons already signed Delk this morning. Get with the program!

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:35 AM ET ) My bad. I talked to a Pistons' official last night and he thought they'd lose out to the Lakers for the reason I stated. Haven't talked to anyone this morning yet. The rest of my answer stands.

Chris (New York): How can AI get left the '08 squad? At 33 he'll still be durable and is someone who actually wants to represent this country the right way, was this a bad move?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:40 AM ET ) I wondered how Kobe and AI could co-exist, so I don't see it as a bad move. The program also has put serious restrictions on entourages and demands a commitment to offseason training for three years, neither stipulation being up AI's alley. AI has played some of his best basketball in international competition, but having him on or off the team isn't going to make the difference. It's how much time this team spends together and how willing the players are to study the international game and understand its nuances. They have a varied try-out roster, which is promising, but I want to see the final product before I believe we're moving in the right direction.

Ben (Sinking in the Swamp, NJ): TIM THOMAS??? Any shot for the homefolk or is it really truly land of the sun or bust?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:43 AM ET ) The Bulls have been adamant about not letting him go to an Eastern Conference team. They can't get it in writing, but they can threaten not to release him unless they have his word. Or, rather, Arn Tellem's word. I expect you'll see him in Phoenix, and there are already reports out to that effect.

Chris (Lancaster, Pa): Hey Ric, I actually would like to respond to your Larry Brown / Knicks comments. I dont think Coach Brown is tanking he was just the wrong guy for the wrong team. I've learned to seperate and divied the league players into 2 different types of players: Ballers and Students. The Knicks are comprised of a team of one on one players, who probably learned to crossover and shoot before they learned to pass and play defense. Students are basically the same except they want to be the best and are willing to do whatever it takes to be that player. Ballers are only worried about individual accomplishments, such as MVP awards, scoring titlesand all star appearances. Student only want 2 things a chance to prove themselves and a championship ring or 2. So I don't he's tanking, in fact If he would go to a team like the Warriors or even Minnesota we wouldn't even be mentioning tanking and Larry Brown in the same sentence.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:44 AM ET ) Allllllrighty, then.

Sean (SF): Ric - am I the only one who thinks that T.J. ford is not a bonafide NBA starter? I watch EVERY Bucks game and the guy is not only a turnover machine, but has no jumper and can't defend. Enlighten me...

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:50 AM ET ) A TJ Ford hater. Yes, you may be the only one. What I've seen is that Ford is banged up, and, as with any small guys who rely on their quickness to create space for their shots and separation to finish around the cup, he doesn't have it right now. I saw him take a nasty undercut in the rookie-soph game and try to walk it off, but you could tell he's not feeling right. When Ford was physically sound, he was a difference maker. You must not have been watching early in the year because I saw him play some great D in the opening weeks of the season. But his health is why there were questions about him in the draft and he's going to be a dice roll his entire career, I'm afraid. (By the way, we're seeing the same thing with Earl Boykins. He's lost a step and he isn't nearly as effective as he was last year.)

Alex (Manhattan Beach, CA): If Amare decides to hold out until next season, which everyone would understand, what can the Suns do to add some presence down low?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:51 AM ET ) They can't. Nor do they need to. It's not the way they play.

Ben (NYC): Am I crazy in thinking that whoever comes outta the West, after the Dallas-San Antonio-Phoenix bloodbath is sorted out, will be too tired to deal with the Pistons? The Pistons are going to coast to the ECF, take care of a tired Shaq, double team Wade, and beat the Heat in 5 or 6. Honestly, am I crazy for thinking a 47-9 team has a chance against the "Giants" out West?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:52 AM ET ) That's a new twist. My question is, if the Pistons have to play their starters long minutes to get the league's best record, what are they going to have left by the time they reach the finals?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:56 AM ET ) One, you haven't shown the Hornets that much loyalty. The attendance and sponsorship #s reflect that. Two, it's not about what you did in the past, anyway. It's where your city is right now. I was down there recently with Habitat for Humanity. It's a ghost town and is a llllllllong way from being a viable NBA city again. New Orleans deserves to get its team back, if it's capable of hosting it. Right now, nothing I've seen, personally, or read, suggests that it will be capable for several years.

Mark (New Orleans): Ric I completely disagree with your assessment of my city and OUR hornets. Every one always wants to mention how bad attendance was in New Orleans last year but i think 14,000 a game for a 18-64 team is very very good. The tickets for the 3 games are selling like hotcakes. The hornets should be forced to come back because 1) we have showed the team so much loyalty and 2) the city needs our hornets to come back permanently and change the mood of the city with their recent winning ways.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:57 AM ET ) I posted my answer before the question. See above.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (11:58 AM ET ) I'm having just one heckuva session, ain't I? First I'm late on the Delk decision and now this...Sheesh. Waiter, another cup of coffee, please!

Mike, Cleveland: Will the Cavs pull off another massive tank job and miss the playoffs again? They can look so good and so bad at times.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (12:01 PM ET ) I can't see them missing out again. But I also don't see them doing much once they get there. Patience, Mike. Think of where you were a couple of years ago. Think of the Shawn Kemp era. You have the right management in place and you have talent. Better days are ahead, I promise.

Josh (Detroit): How healthy is Shaq right now? Is he gonna be able to handle a grueling series with the wallaces come May?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (12:03 PM ET ) Is that a bit of anxiety in the Motor City? I can only go by Shaq's track record. He hasn't had the energy at the end of the year for three straight years now. He has a team around him that doesn't have enough energy to cover for him. I haven't seen anything from the Heat this season that changes my opinion since they made their big moves last summer -- they are a worse team now than they were last May. And so are their chances of getting to the finals.

james (ocala fl): It sure looks like Darko can play defense in this league. I know he is struggleing offensively, but I never realized how much of a defensive player he is. Your take?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (12:04 PM ET ) I'm looking forward to seeing him play live tonight. Ask me again in the next chat.

td (atlanta): it's past noon, time for Mort. Stop talking.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: (12:05 PM ET ) Well, there you go. I was going to answer a few more, but you're right, TD, it's time to go. I'll try to be better next time. Thanks for dropping in!

Don't you think Isiah has to run all these moves past Dolan before pulling the trigger?

alot of people on this board dont seem to think so....u idiots!!!

Larry, you little evil genious you!