Chris Sheridan

  (3:01 PM)

Greetings from Cancun, Mexico (I wish). Trade deadline is coming, lots of rumors both real and imagined out there, there's the Gilbert Arenas suspension to discuss, plus there will probably be more than he usual number of L.A.-based Stein haters in the question/declaration queue today given that he gave the top spot in his weekly Power Rankings to Cleveland instead of the Lakers for the third straight week.

Rich (Cleveland Ohio)

Hey Chris, is there a possibility the Cavs have a shot of trading Z and JJ Hickson for Chris Bosh? ..I also heard of a Z for Troy Murphy swap. Could either of these come true?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:05 PM)

That Bosh trade is ludicrous. Toronto still feels its best opions will come through sign-and-trades if Bosh decides to leave. Unlss someone blows them away before the deadline, they're hanging onto him. The Murphy trade only makes sense from a financial perspective for Indiana becuase they'd be taking long-term money of their cap. But they are not giving away a player of that caliber for an expiring contract. I'd say the likeliest guy on the Cavs' roster to be moved is Daniel Gibson, and if they go for a home run with a big money guy I expect them to use Wally Szczerbiak and/or Lorenzen Wright as a piece of the puzzle through sign-and-trade means. (like the Mavs did with Keith Van Horn a couple years back).

Ali (AZ )

Who's in/out for this summers Worlds so far?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:10 PM)

My guess is the player of the utmost concern to you, Ali, would be Seam Marks, who told me a month ago that he is done playing with the Tall Blacks now that he is a father and wants to spend time with his toddler. But he said Kirk Penney should be there for the Kiwis, and I myself am curious to see who the next Pero Cameron might be. On Team USA, the hardest hedger is Dwyane Wade. In the case of him, Bosh, Lebron (and perhaps rudy Gay, too), their focus is going to be laser-like on free agency in July, but by mid-August I think they'll all be on board. If I coul see one key Beijing guy missing it, it would be Kobe Bryant because he's eventually going to have those broken fingers fixed. On Pau Gasol, I think he'll be under enormous pressure from back home to play, and I think he will. I would guess that Calderon will sit out for Spain, but they will be fine with Ricky (who started over Jose in Beijing).

Justin (Denver)

How much legs does the Haywood to Denver Rumor have?I've thought for months he is/was the BEST player for what Denver needs.

Chris Sheridan

  (3:13 PM)

Most of the Wizards rumors have legs to a certain degree, because everyone on that roster is available except Earl Boykins (untradeable until Feb. 11). First thing they have to decide, though, is whether trying to void Gilbert's cpontract is going to be part of their dynamite plan. If so, they'll be looking to get lottery-level picks in any Butler or Jamison deals.

Kurt (Boise, Idaho)

What are the Jazz going to do by thr deadline? One night they play like world beaters and beat the Mavs then the next night they lose to a team like the Timberwolves, what gives, should they just trade to get what they can for Boozer or should they go for it?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:17 PM)

Had to take a question from Boise, Kurt, in honor of Stein, who received instructions from yours truly on exactly which Basque restaurant to visit. No word from him yet on whether he took my advice. On the Jazz, I said it before and I'll say it again: If they can trade AK, they'll address their long-term money problems that way and roll the dice that they're on an uptick come April. They won't make a panic trade of Boozer. Like the Raptors with Bosh, they also will have sign-and-trade options with him this summer that will be more palatable than what they could get now.

Bill (DC)

I there any way the Cavs can get under the cap enough (expirings, renouncing rights, etc.) to sign a max/near max FA and then re-sign Lebron? Not one seems to mention this, but it sounds plausible.

Chris Sheridan

  (3:19 PM)

Not with the cap expected to drop to the 52-53 million rage. If the recession hadn't happened, the cap would have been in the low 60s next season.

Chris Sheridan

  (3:20 PM)

I'll tell you another thing people never mention: If the Cavs learned they were going to lose LeBron, would they do a sign-and-trade deal to get something back? My guess: No. They would cut the cord and go spend his and Z's money on the best guys they could find.

jevon (NY)

If the knicks have A shot at trading Curry, but have to package Gallo....should they???

Chris Sheridan

  (3:25 PM)

If they thoight they had a shot at trading Curry, they'd be playing him. And since they are not playing him, and they are using Jared Jeffries so much and in so many different roles, they are throwing all their eggs into the Jared-Is-The-Only-Guy-We-Can-Trade basket. If they have to give up a young guy to get rid of him, I think they'd part with Jordan Hill 1st, Toney Douglas 2nd, Marcus Landry 3rd, Wilson Chandler 4th. Gallinari is borderline untouchable, and Nate is best used in a sign-and-trade after July 1 when his base-year compensation ends (as does David Lee's).

Erik (Atlanta, Ga)

Are the Hawks standing pat or is there a move out there they can make?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:27 PM)

If they could do a move along the lines of Marvin Williams-Antawn Jamison which would give them a better shot of getting out of the 2nd round, I think they'd so something like that. They need an upgrade somewhere more than they need an extra piece. Crawford is the extra piece they were missing.

Greg (Detroit) ((Detroit) )

Chris I need your help! Please talk me and the rest of the Detroit fan base off the ledge. Is there any help in sight? Or are we doomed for another season of Stuckey, rip and ben gordon fighting for shots?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:32 PM)

The only words I can offer to pull you away from that ledge are these: The Chauncey trade was the first part of a process that is only halfway complete. The Gordon/Villanueva signings were step 2, and the Tayshaun trade is next, IMO, and Rip Hamilton's value could peak at the trade deadline, when he'll be an enticing name on the market that could really help a playoff-bound team. So let the process reach steps 3 and 4 before deciding whether to move back onto the ledge. This is turning out to be a throwaway season. And yes, I know 2 of those in a row is difficult to take after 6 straight ECF appearances, but think of the folks in New York who have suffered a whole heck of a lot more, and for a lot longer, than Pistons' fans.

Mike (CA)

If Bynum gets traded for Bosh how much better of a team this year will the Lakers be?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:35 PM)

Lots of Bosh-Bynum questions in the queue. I think toronto might do that deal at the deadline, but I question whether it would make the Lakers that much more of a lock to win the west than they already are. Then, if Bosh leaves because Jerry Buss doesn't want to pay $40 million in luxury taxes, you've ended up losing Bynum for nothing. So the risk/reward thing does not favor L.A. on that one.

john (los angeles)

how good would the clippers be with z-bo still on this team?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:36 PM)

They wouldn't have a legit All-Star candidate in the middle as they do now with Kaman.

Mike (Akron)

So do the Cavs make a move? Should they? They needed a heavy big man last year to go at Orlando and LA. NOw they have that, but they can also play small (Andy @ the 5 and Bron @ the 4) as they showed last night. They also were poor against elite teams last year, now they can hold their own 8-3 against NBA's best (not to mention wins @Orl and LA). So should they make a move Chris?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:40 PM)

Like I said earlier, Mike, if they can upgrade Boobie and use Wally/Lorenzen to make the money work, I think they'll do something. I'd say a Gibson trade is 5 times more likely than a Z trade. Also, I know Jamario Moon is out 3 weeks, but it still sort of feels like I'm watching a showcase every time I see Jawad Williams on the floor. If they combo Jawad, Gibson and Wally, they could get a nice piece back. If they added Hickson to that threesome, I'd bet they could get David West.

Yogi (Calgary)

Jose Calderon looks a bit redundant in Toronto with Jarrett Jack and Hedo Turkoglu. Is there a market for his services out there?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:41 PM)

Not until he shows he can play injury-free for a sustaind amount of time. The guy has been hurt for 18 straight months.

austin (indy)

I heard a report that the Pacers rejected the TWolves offer of Al Jefferson for Danny Granger. What is the Pacers thought process here? Because i wouldve accepted and run with it

Chris Sheridan

  (3:44 PM)

Wolves GM told colleague Marc Stein such a deal was never discussed. There is a story up on the ESPN.com main NBA page with all the details. You want my guess as to who Minny deals? It'll be Mark Blount, whose expiring $7.97 contract is one of the least-discussed trade assets out there. (Although I hear Portland, the team in most dire need of a big man, is not interested).

Grahame (Vancouver)

How will the Evans/Martin backcourt do? They only played 5 games together this year, and that was when Evans was really green. Many people think Evans will eventually be a 2, but is there a way to make it work long term?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:46 PM)

This is the time to find out, and the thing to watch for is how effective Evans can till be with the ball in his hands about 40 percent less than he's grown accustomed to.

David (Buffalo)

Why do people think Bosh is more likely to leave his team than James, Wade, or any of the other top free agents?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:51 PM)

That has been the conventional wisdom for some time because a) It is cold in Toronto, Bosh is from Texas, Toronto is somewhat off the main NBA radar in terms of national popularity (in the U.S.), and they haven't won since Bosh got there; b) James has the hometown ties to Akron/Cleveland, which will weigh heavily upon his decision, and; c) Wade plays in Miami, where it's never cold (except this past week, which was probably the second time it got cold there since Wade arrived from the windswept icetown known as Milwaukee, where he attended Marquette) and where it is good to be a bachelor, which Wade now is.

Robert (Arizona)

How do see the whole T-Mac thing working out in Houston?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:55 PM)

I think the Knicks have a legit shot, given the financial relief they can provide by including Cuttino Mobley's insurance-covered $9 million contract. NY also would be willing to take back Brian Cook's $3.5 million in the trade, and if the rockets take back $3 million less in contracts than they're giving away, they drop under the luxury tax line and collect another $4 mill in cold, hard cash. The deal-killer remains Jeffries. We'll see if the Rockets still feel that way at the 11th hour with $11 million in savings for Les Alexander to consider.

Jim Crozier (Meridian, Idaho)

We're nearing the midpoint of the season. Who's your current pick for NBA Champion?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:56 PM)

Lakers over Boston in 5.

Will (Baltimore MD)

I don't see LBJ joining Wade in Miami, even with the sun-n-fun. There can be only one alpha dog in a pack. What do you think?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:58 PM)

I think you are wrong, and I think it is a three-team race between Miami, New York and Cleveland. But I also still want to hear from Prokhorov before I completely throw NJ out of the picture.

Ben (Halifax)

1) Bosh likes Toronto, and it's unquestionably a more cosmopolitan city than at least 24 other in the league. And Minnesota, Detroit & Milwaukee are all colder. 2) Bosh wants to be the man, not a lackey of Wade or LBJ. 3) If Bosh is as good as he can be, the team will win, and Bosh will be a star, as shown before with he who shall not be named.

Chris Sheridan

  (4:03 PM)

Half of Canada is queuing up with defensive questions about how cosmopolitan Toronto is, etc. Yes, I have been there. Yes, I love it there. Yes, Minnesota is 100 times colder. I understand all that. To you, Ben, I disagree with the alpha dog argument. Bosh, at his very, very best, happened in Beijing when he came off the bench. Doug Smith of the Toronto Star, who has covered every game in Toronto Raptors history, swung by one day at the press section in Wukesong Arena and asked who the hyper-aggressive tall guy was on Team USA. If he and LeBron could team up in NY, or take a little less apiece and join DWade in Miami, I could see him seeing that as the next best logical step forward in his career and life progression. It won;t be an anti-Canada thing, and I think chris will make that known loud and clear, unlike McGrady and (to a greater degree) Vince did prior to their departures.

Chris Sheridan

  (4:04 PM)

That's a chat wrap, folks. Lots of questions in there today, more than usual. Sorry I couldn't get to more. See you again next week.