Ric Bucher: All right, Chatters, I've got 25 quality minutes to offer before the limo arrives to take me to the studio. Let's get started.
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lawrence , detroit: Now that detroit has lost out on finley ans spree according to reports maybe headed to the rockets....what is JoeD up to??? With Davis now is Darko headed out for a small forward?? Any thoughts???
Ric Bucher: Darko isn't headed anywhere until Dumars sees how he responds to Flip. Then you can expect to see him on the market. I'm told Dumars plans to add one more young perimeter player, presumably by free agency rather than trade. I don't know who that player is (yet). Reports are accurate that they have little confidence they can land Finley and there isn't a whole lot of mutual interest between Spree and the Pistons.
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Rickey (Houston): With all of the transactions that the Rockets did during the offseason can they really overtake the Spurs and win the championship.
Ric Bucher: Not even. They filled some holes on paper, but JVG has his work cut out for him. Stro Swift doesn't have a lot of fans among GMs because he doesn't play hard every night. That makes him a younger version of Kelvin Cato. Derek Anderson will have to buy into JVG's approach to defense. Big question if he can after all those years foundering in Portland. On a positive note, I just talked with someone who had dinner with Yao in Shanghai a few days ago. Says his arms are genormous. Good sign that his upper body could be as strong as his lower.
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Josh (Springfield VA): Is there still a chance of Wizards aquiring a legitimate power forward? Perhaps Songaila?
Ric Bucher: All indications are that Songaila is going to the Bulls. I don't know what your definition of a legit PF is, but there are about six of them in the league, so no, I don't see them landing one. I do like their offseason moves. They're a better team than last year.
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derence,(jersey city,nj): You guys rarely or never take a kings question.How good are they this year as compared to last year adding Rahim and Bonzi with the trio still there(Skinner,KT and Corliss) that they got out of the C-Webb deal? You think they have the right pieces now to possibly win it all?
Ric Bucher: Win it all? Or win *at* all? The Kings are in cost-cutting mode. Teams in that mode don't win it all. My question is, how much longer will the Kings be in Sacramento? Stay tuned.
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max: So ric i just upset that the best gm in the league since the logo does not get the respect he has earned that mess that scott layden left was a joke please someone write a pre isiah piece on and post now that the knicks are just getting back on track where we had the must gifted time in my time (im 24) we cant give the man and the league money makers a chance
Ric Bucher: This is what happens when there are no games on TV and fans are left to make model airplanes.
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OSCAR(San Juan Puerto Rico): Who do you think is the favorite in each conference and why?? Thanks
Ric Bucher: I still like San Antonio in the west and, as of now, Indiana in the east.
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CJ (Denver,CO): Why is Finley excluding the Nuggets? Starting position, full mid-level, on a playoff team with improving young talent. Are the Suns that much better off? The loss of their 3pt shooting and their thin bench will haunt them this year.
Ric Bucher: Fin played for George Karl on the 2002 World Championship team. George was far from his best at the time. I'm not sure I could find anyone from that team who would want to play for him again. Even Andre Miller had doubts, but those apparently have been worked out.
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Justin - Hackettstown, NJ: With the addittion on Mike Finley are the heat the automatic favorite for the naismith trophy? I say with because at this point in finley's career he would be crazy to go anywhere else. The spurs are great but this year belongs to Miami.
Ric Bucher: I couldn't disagree with you more and my column tomorrow will explain why.
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stephen a.aldridge detroit: hey ric(i'm hoping atleast1of my ?'s get answered,THEY NEVER DO) why do u think earl watson has not received the interest from teams he probably deserves?cause i believe he could be the starting pg on a GOOD team
Ric Bucher: Not getting your questions answered might have something to do with your name -- shouldn't you have all the answers already? Watson apparently is asking for way too much money. He's a borderline starting point guard in this league.
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Greg (Denver): What on earth is Philly doing when they say they will not go over the luxury tax? Why did they acquire Webber and why do they refuse to trade Iverson if they will not at least try to get the proper help to surround them with? Their bench is about 1-2 deep right now and even that's debatable.
Ric Bucher: They're assuring themselves of a profit, which is what businesspeople do. Competively, they believe that CWebb's knee is going to improve and that they have the nucleus with Webb, AI, Korver and Dalembert to compete in the east. I have my doubts about Webb's knee and believe O'Brien got the most out of them last season, but we'll see.
Ric Bucher: And with that, I see the limo down by the front gate. Thanks for stopping by, I'll try to stay longer next time. I'm out...
