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• Which big man would you rather have in the post? Vote on the trade between the Hornets and Bobcats.

Emeka Okafor played three college seasons; Tyson Chandler didn't play any. Both were selected second overall in their respective NBA drafts; neither has had an abundance of luck staying healthy as a professional. Both looked good for stretches when they were on the court. The lesson here? Heck if we know.

Apparently the Bobcats and Hornets are also at a bit of a loss when it comes to two talented big men with physical baggage. The two teams swapped players Tuesday, with Okafor heading to play with Chris Paul in New Orleans and Chandler ... well, we hear Charlotte has some wonderful golf courses that should keep him busy during May.

When the Bulls picked Chandler No. 2 in 2001, both Pau Gasol and Tony Parker were still on the board (although in Parker's case, that was true for most teams in the first round). At least the Bobcats got some service out of Okafor after picking him No. 2 (and in a draft that saw Shaun Livingston and Rafael Araujo go in the top eight picks, it could have been worse), but imagine how things might look if the lottery had given them the No. 1 pick that went to the Magic.

• Chandler didn't fare well when SportsNation picked its own Team USA | Pick your own
• Does the trade change your NBA Power Rankings?
• Groups: Charlotte Bobcats | Carolina SportsNation | The Hornet Hive

“

This is a decent trade for Charlotte(only if Chandler stays healthy). Charlotte was the lowest scoring team in the league and Okafor has the offensive skills of a high school player. The team needs to score and win now. If they dont make the playoffs then at least fans will have more highlights. Charlotte is now a young and athletic team.

” -- gilesjk84

“

I love Michael Jordan, but he's a complete failure as a front office guy. Just sit back and stay out of business deals Mike, you suck at it.

” -- brianm23

“

I live in Charlotte and all you see for the Bobcats is Emeka Okafor, what are the Bobcats going to do without him? Really? This is one of the most stupid trades I've ever seen the Bobcats make in their small history. I hope this trade doesn't work or Tyson Chandler doesn't pass the physical or something please. Jeez!!!!!!!

” -- swimmerchildren

• Rankings: Who are the most successful European imports in sports?

Ricky Rubio is just one of many. No, not potential point guards for the Timberwolves, although that's also true, come to think of it. Rubio, whenever he gets to the United States on a full-time basis, will be just one of many European athletes starring in North American professional sports leagues.

Everywhere you look, there's a guy with good taste in food, a certain worldly "je ne sais quoi" and jeans that are just a little too tight. Heck, Kobe Bryant makes more sense in Italian these days than Delonte West does in English most of the time.

Where once there was the occasional Swede on skates, there are now Europeans everywhere you look (not applicable to residents of Arkansas). Well, almost everywhere. Scotland's Lawrence Tynes isn't exactly leading an EU assault on the NFL.

• Voters think Russia's KHL unlikely to rival NHL even it expands to Central Europe.
• 'Nation believes young American soccer prospects are better off in Europe.
• Only 11 percent of voters like idea of Super Bowl in London.

“

This was such an incredibly stupid draft pick by Minnesota, just horrific. Did they not do their homework at all? This kid is locked into Europe for two more years, because of that buyout. Moreover, the adjustment period of going from Spanish ball to the NBA will probably take another three years. So this horrible team that cannot sell tickets, drafts a guy that will not really pay off at all (if he even does) for five years. Stupid organization!

” -- TorreroX

“

Rubio should take a lesson from American athletes. He should go play for Joventut, complain about a nagging injury, put out an embarrassing Youtube video, become a locker-room cancer, and generally become a pain in the ####. Next thing you know they be paying him to leave!

” -- karltkoch

Sometimes we all need a little extra space to vent. ESPN profiles give fans space to post their own blog entries and go toe-to-toe with commenters.

• Tyrel_Thompson: A Philadelphia fan congratulates Kobe Bryant for representing the star's hometown, but generally gives the NBA Finals lower marks than "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian." He clearly has no memory of the Nets-Spurs NBA Finals.
• iamtheptbnl: Another fan offers tepid congratulations to Kobe for winning the title but contends the Magic lost the series as much as the Lakers won it.
• DTJones2005: A Chicago fan has an interesting take on the argument that Phil Jackson lucked into the best players. It's nice to have talent, but Jackson was the right guy to get both MJ and Kobe to trust their teammates.
• rb1331: One Magic fan is ready and willing to admit the Lakers were the better team, pointing at Pau Gasol's pick-and-roll work, Derek Fisher's big shots and Trevor Ariza's defense.
• More blogs: Check out all the SportsNation blogs.

Another game, another big stat line from Dwight Howard and another round of questions about just how well he played. The real Superman never dealt with stuff like this. ("Sure, you cleared the tall building in a single bound, but couldn't you have just gone around?")

Then again, the real Superman never missed two late free throws to set up late-game heroics from super villain stand-in Derek Fisher.

Chris from Pittsford N.Y. wanted to know what someone thought of Howard's performance in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, and Magic Johnson was ready and willing to offer his response.

• Ask Countdown: Ask Jon Barry, Magic Johnson, Michael Wilbon or Stuart Scott
• Fan groups: Lakers | Orlando Magic Hoops | NBA Where amazing happens

Rick Fox knows something about versatility. Forget splitting a basketball career between the Lakers and Celtics, the guy made repeat appearances on both "One Tree Hill" and "Oz" (just imagine the possible crossover episode between those two). So there are worse people to ask about what both teams in the NBA Finals need, beyond star performances from Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard, respectively.

For their part, voters are split as to whether Pau Gasol or Rashard Lewis is the best sidekick in the series. Surprisingly, Lamar Odom fares equally poorly in both California and Florida (although he does better than most places in Pennsylvania, home of Hershey's).

Roland (Orlando)

Other than players named Kobe and Dwight, what player has had the most impact on this series for either team?

Rick Fox

I thought, quite frankly, for the Lakers, Odom had to be the presence he was in the first two wins. I thought his presence was the X-factor. For the Magic, I thought the point guard position was one of challenge for the Lakers. It's always been the pick and roll. You saw early on in the series, [the Magic] had to see what Jameer Nelson could give them and it could be a distraction, and it was. They seemed to return to what worked, and Alston played well, leading them to a win. Full chat transcript.

• Speaking of stars, SportsNation blogger dgd007 is going contrarian on us, but at least he brings some numbers to back up his claim that Kobe Bryant isn't nearly as clutch in the playoffs as we all think he is. Next up: Mario Batali can't really cook Italian food.

Dwight Howard puts up 21 points and 14 rebounds in Game 3 of the NBA Finals and still hears the whispers that he's not playing like a go-to star against the Lakers. Tough crowd.

But for the second time in three games, Howard attempted just six shots against a Lakers defense more interested in letting him shoot unmolested from the free throw line than from in the paint. So how are the Lakers slowing the big man? Jon Barry of "NBA Countdown" tackled that question from Alex in Roswell, Ga., after Tuesday's game.

• Ask Countdown: Send a question for Jon Barry, Magic Johnson, Michael Wilbon or Stuart Scott to answer after each game.
• Fan groups: Lakers | Orlando Magic Hoops | NBA Where amazing happens