ray (wash, DC): transplanted socal-er here. corey maggs was on the block earlier this season. are the clips planning to keep him or move him in the offseason? have the clips found a replacement in vlad?

Dustin: Logan, UT: Please take a Jazz question!! Everyone knows that they need a SG, but who is to be had that can make a difference, either by trade or FA...and do they have to give up Boozer or Okur to get it done?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: See what happens when we work together. Jazz need a SG, Maggette -- or corey maggs to those who go clubbin' with him, evidently -- is on the block. Utah aren't going to be that torn up about moving Boozer to refit their team. Stephen Jackson for the Pacers is sure to be available and I'm guessing Mickael Pietrus might be had for the right price as well. Then there's the glut in Atlanta, which could use a big of Boozer's ilk. Trust me, Utah can get that need filled this summer.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: Because he wants to go and Utah believes as good as he's been, he's not money well spent.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: Not at all. Ben knows Detroit helped make him the star that he is. He's flipped out before like this. He is ultra-competitive and when he feels he's being held back from competing, he's going to lose his mind now and then. This is also the chief concern I had about Flip taking over that team. He's a nice guy. Maybe too nice. Down the road, it remains to be seen how he pulls guys back in line when they step out of it.

Anthony (Detroit): Ric, all signs have been that Ben Wallace will re-sign with Detroit after this season. Should the incident on Friday be taken as a sign that he might not?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: I did a Jeopardy -- posted the answer before the question. Nice.

C (Detroit): whats the deal Ric, you're taking too long

SportsNation Ric Bucher: You're right.

Dan Bmore: Why would Utah trade Boozer, he has been spectacular since returning from injury and that would be an tight front court.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: My computer is obviously glitching on me. This is the question that I answered concerning Boozer. Let's see if I can get this wrinkle worked out...

Ang (Dallas, TX): Please talk about the MVP race and what your opinion is and what you think will happen, having talked to the writers and reporters in the nation (put some emphasis on Dirk if you can)

Sam (Arlington, TX): Hey Ric, nice peice today in the Daily Dime; however, I cannot help but criticize you and the rest of the ESPNers for not recognizing Dirk as a MVP canindate. All we want in Dallas is a little recognition, and when I log on to espn.com I see your column, which fails to include Dirk, and a poll which does the same. Come on man, what gives? Thats ridiculous!

SportsNation Ric Bucher: Dirk could've been mentioned in place of Brand, in terms of a guy who has been statistically impressive for a team that was better than expected. He's not on my ballot because I don't see how he makes the other Mavs better. He's not a particularly good passer, he's not a help defender and he doesn't create shots for other guys. He's a wonderful weapon and he's stepped up as a leader with Fin and Nash gone, but Josh Howard fits my idea of an MVP more than Dirk.

Brendan (Australia): Why is it that even though a major percentage of ESPN "Analysts" predicted that the lakers would again miss the playoffs, you guys are still hating on Kobe? he has carried a sub par team to the playoffs. A team that no other player would be able to take his place and do the same. Put Steve nash on the Lakers and take Kobe and put him on the Suns. Which team is going to be better?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: These I truly love. I picked the Lakers to make the playoffs at the start of the year, I mention Kobe as an MVP candidate as the league's best player and I get the "you guys" question. I'm going to send Andrew Gaze and Mark Bradtke over to your house for a little chat, Brendan.

DJ (DC): Any chance that the Raptors try to re-create the Serbian National Team by going after Peja, VladRad, and perhaps Darko in 07? Everyone says this town has a huge Serbian population, and with the reluctance of Americans to play in Canada it seems to be an intriguing (albeit absurd) option.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: As I recall, the last Serb-Montenegro team was a disaster. So I'd say no. Besides, Vlad isn't going anywhere. He loves the Clips -- how 'bout that for a statement -- and he's willing to sign for the mid-level. I do appreciate that you tagged your own question as absurd.

James (Cincy): Rick, earlier in the year everyone was pointing to the Pistons bench as a weakness. However, McDyess and Delk are consistently scoring 10+ points a game and Lindsey Hunter is playing great defense. With the improved bench play and homecourt pretty much locked up, can anybody beat the Pistons in a 7 game series?

Renegade (Texas): Ric, what are the Spurs chances of repeating without a healthy Tim Duncan? TXS

Steve Dallas, TX: When Dallas gets San Antonio in the 2nd round, how big will that win last Friday boost their confidence?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: Here's the deal between SA and Dallas, as far as homecourt advantage or anything else: Dallas has to have it because they need every mental edge they can get going up against the defending champs. The Spurs are capable of winning without the homecourt advantage; in fact, they often play better on the road than at home. The Mavs haven't had quite the same success. The win on Friday, in short, means nothing if they don't wind up with the homecourt advantage. It does help Dirk that he had a good game against Bruce Bowen, but my guess is that SA will throw some new looks at him come playoff time. They always do.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: As for the Pistons, the problem is that their front line, as good as it is, is undersized. They've essentially got two PFs and a tweener PF/SF in McDyess. There's an erosion problem as the playoffs roll on and a foul trouble issue. Duncan not being healthy is a concern, but with at least a day off between games I believe that problem will be minimized. The bigger concern is if Manu is 100 percent. You saw how bad the Spurs were against Detroit when he was playing with that quad contusion, and how good they were when he wasn't. The other concern: back-up point guard. Parker can be stymied by long defenders and the jury is still out on who comes to the rescue, Van Exel or Udrih. At some point along the way, one of them will have to.

Kris, India: PLEASE ANSWER YOUR FIRST EVER QUESTION FROM INDIA. Ok then let's start with a BJ Armstrong question. last week he criticized Lebron for passing out of a triple team on the last possession. larry hughes missed a wide open shot and so Bj argued that LeBron can't be MVP if he shies away from last second shots. Where do you stand on it? is making the play that has the best chance good or taking the last shot no matter what? And this from Elias: eBron James hit a field goal in the final second of play to give the Cavaliers a 103-101 win over the Hornets. James has made 19 of 29 field-goal attempts this season in the last two minutes of a one-possession game (66 percent). No other player with at least 25 attempts has made more than half of them. Derek Fisher ranks second at 50 percent (13-for-26).

SportsNation Ric Bucher: Welcome, Kris. The stat on LeBron in the final two minutes makes BJ's case. He's 19 for 29 in the final two minutes! He has the size and speed to get his shot against anybody! He is the undisputed leader of that team! Unless he's smothered -- and if he's aggressive, that should rarely happen -- there's no one else who should be taking that shot. I don't believe LeBron is MVP (maybe a candidate, but not at the top of the ballot) for the same reason: he doesn't fully grasp the mental game within the game yet. Quite honestly, he makes a lot of bad decisions. Still. He survives them because he has such tremendous raw ability and a physical advantage on par with Amare Stoudamire's -- but there's a reason Phil Jackson preferred coaching Kobe over LeBron. Kobe knows the game and what decisions need to be made when. LeBron is still figuring that out.

Tad (Ithaca, NY): People seem to be very split on whether the Nets can take the Heat in round two. Isn't the biggest factor the AGE and TIREDNESS of Shaq and the other old and tired dudes in South Beach? And don't say Mourning. He's old and tired too!

SportsNation Ric Bucher: I believe this is the crux of Miami's problem with NJ: small forward. Without James Posey healthy and playing 100 percent, Antoine Walker has to get back to stop the break on either Jefferson or Carter. And I'm assuming JWill comes back and gives them something at the 1. The game slows down in the postseason, of course, but the Nets are strong where the Heat is weakest -- perimeter athleticism. And right now, Shaq isn't good enough to compensate for that with his interior advantage.

Dave Washnigton DC: Ric what about a MIPOATTWITDDI (Most Important Player On A Team That Won Its Division Despite Injuries) or as I prefer to call him Carmelo Anthony. He's having a season as good as anyone in the league.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: He's having a nice year and I have enjoyed seeing him grow as a player. A year or two from now, I suspect LeBron, Wade and Melo will be going head-to-head-to-head in MVP competition. It's just a little too early. None of those three lead their teams in the mental dept. the way Nash and Kobe lead theirs.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: Make that the way Nash, Kobe and Billups lead theirs.

Tom (DC): Maybe I'm in the minority of people, but I think the Wizards have a good chance to beat the Cavs in the 1st round. They've beaten them both at home and at the Q while making Lebron look pretty ordinary. What say you, NBA expert?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: I agree. The Cavs are rolling right now but collectively they have no playoff experience, their defense is suspect and they're not the smartest of teams. The Wizards can play a crazy brand of basketball, too, but they can easily steal one of the first two games and it will be interesting to see how the Cavs respond to losing homecourt advantage.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: By the way, here's another reason I just can't get all that worked up about LeBron's finishing flourish -- it has come against primarily weak teams with the pressure off of making the playoffs. I can't underscore what a difference it makes when a team knows it is in, knows it has homecourt advantage and can just play freely. Especially a team that plays the way the Cavs do. For another example, look at last year's Warriors. They were killing people at the end of the season. Why? Because fates were already decided, theirs and the teams they were playing. Don't get me wrong, LeBron's talent is stupendous. But I'd hate to have my league MVP stumble in the first round and that has a very real chance of happening.

Rob (Los Angeles, CA): Quit stalling and give us your pick for MVP this year. Nash? Kobe? Billups?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: Nash, Kobe, Billups it is. Who should I pick for the two places on my ballot?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: Make that last two places...?

Mike(OH): Ric...so you seriously think that LeBron should take the last shot no matter what? I find it refreshing that a superstar player is willing to pass out of a triple team to an open guy for a look at the win. LA can keep Kobe and his constant clamoring for the ball...LBJ makes others around him better.

Aaron (Indianapolis, IN): you guys always point of the flaws in LeBron's game, which happens often with great players. But at this point what more can he do? Average 40 and a triple double? Be careful cus he might just do it!

SportsNation Ric Bucher: Aaron is right, the best do get scrutinized more than the average player. But here's the simplest answer to both questions: He can be smarter. Much smarter. It's not a matter of taking the last shot every time. It's about looking to take the last shot every time, about forcing the defense to stop him first. All too many times, LeBron settles. He makes an acceptable play but not the best play. Say what you want about Kobe, he fully understands who he has around him and what his best chance of winning is and he goes for it. Throughout the course of a game, he's setting up his opponent, anticipating where the game is going to be won in the fourth quarter. Nash and Billups are very similar in that regard. Dirk and Elton Brand just don't have the pure ability to control a game in that manner. LeBron has the talent but not the awareness. Which makes him amazing that he can do what he can do. But it doesn't make him MVP.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: Is it just me, or have we spent this entire chat on MVP?

Ben (SF, CA): Yo Ric, can you make up an acronym award for Dirk? Seems like he was the only legit MVP candidate who didn't win anything in your Daily Dime piece.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: MUSPG: Most Underrated Saxophone-Playing German.

Derek (Lynchburg, VA): Ric, what is your take on Adam Morrison? I just really wonder at his ability to succeed at the NBA level, he just doesn't seem athletic enough. Why is everyone so high on him?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: He's a tremendous scorer but he's going to have a very hard time at the other end. The biggest problem with every player in this draft is that people expect top five picks to have an immediate impact and no one this year will. Several guys will make rotations and get minutes, but I wouldn't expect more than that.

Pat (Austin, TX): Is it just me, or did you just say LeBron doesn't have the awareness? I've watched every Cavs game this year, and while I won't call myself an expert like you do, I understand the game. Like Aaron said, the best are always scrutinized the most. Give the kid a break. The win against NO\OKC DOES mean something - momentum going into the playoffs, Mr. "Expert".

Jack SA Tex: your an idiot get off Kobe and Nash neither deserve the MVP

Mike(OH): Hahaha...you crack me up Ric! "LeBron doesn't have the awareness"---He is probably the best passer his size since Magic Johnson. You should probably watch a Cavs game before you just keep spewing out this crap. Goodday!

John Frisco, Tx: Well maybe if you wrote a halfway informed article about it people wouldn't be questioning it. do you even watch games?

Rob (Dallas): Ric- I was wondering if I could get a job at ESPN. Apparently you have ZERO basketball knowledge, and you have a job there. To say Dirk is not an MVP, and doesnt make his team better is not only moronic, but it proves that you dont do your own research, you just listen to dopes like Charles Barkley. Please file your resignation today.

SportsNation Ric Bucher: Good to know LeBron has his supporters.

Duncan, San Antone: Who cares about the MVP- it's all about championships....

SportsNation Ric Bucher: Amen to that. I'm cutting into BJ's time. Thanks everyone for showing up and offering your opinions. See you again soon.

Dustin: Logan, UT: Please take a Jazz question!! Everyone knows that they need a SG, but who is to be had that can make a difference, either by trade or FA...and do they have to give up Boozer or Okur to get it done?

SportsNation Ric Bucher: See what happens when we work together. Jazz need a SG, Maggette -- or corey maggs to those who go clubbin' with him, evidently -- is on the block. Utah aren't going to be that torn up about moving Boozer to refit their team. Stephen Jackson for the Pacers is sure to be available and I'm guessing Mickael Pietrus might be had for the right price as well. Then there's the glut in Atlanta, which could use a big of Boozer's ilk. Trust me, Utah can get that need filled this summer.

maggette available and so is boozer for a SG.

i say francis + lee for boozer.