Welcome everyone to this week's chat! Had to move it up an hour this week, but we'll be back to the normal time of 2 pm EST next week. Let's get right to the questions.

The players in New York may know that they aren't going to be Knicks next year, but they're hoping to be in the league and because of that they're not going to just mail it in. This is an important year for them and because of the situation they're in they have a great opportunity to play big minutes and earn a long-term deal. I don't buy into there being no incentive for them at all. This year doesn't look great for them so far, but their record this season could not be less important. The main priority there is to clear out as much cap space as possible and develop the young guys that are under contract for the next few years like Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler. Coming into next season they'll have a completely re-tooled roster possibly with a superstar or two and a future that looks as bright as it has in a long time.

I think there's a lot that goes into it West. First, the best competition in college athletics is always going to be at the Division I level. JUCO basketball as a whole can barely hold a candle to the talent level and competition at the D1 level, even when you put them up against some of the low and mid major schools. Second, junior college is never a route that is chosen above going DI or DII for premiere players worthy of NBA consideration. It's only picked when it's the only option due to grades or other eligibility issues. Overall it's just nowhere near as great as an evaluation tool for scouts and GMs, which is why we don't see it too often. A player would really have to blow me away in the JUCO ranks for me to consider drafting him with a first round pick.

No way. Internally the Spurs know that building a championship team is a process that takes time. We're just a few games into the regular season, there's no reason to make a trade of that magnitude just because they're not undefeated like their fan base was hoping they'd be. The Spurs would be perfectly content going into the postseason with 55-60 wins as long as they're peaking at that time. I think there's a certain amount of unwarranted panicking starting over the Cavs, Lakers, and Spurs because so many expected them to chase 70. It isn't easy, especially when you're integrating new pieces and dealing with injuries. The Spurs are familiar with Jackson and I think that they'd rather have a healthy Manu, who will be much better come the later stages of the season.

I'm gonna come right out and say it now that they come away 3-0 from that opening season tournament in Lubbock, Texas. Coach Clark is in his third year at TAMUCC and for those who have followed Coach Clark's career from back at Tulane it was in his third season there that the program took it's biggest step forward. I expect similar results as Coach Clark has put together one of the deepest and most talented teams in school history. 6'6 SG Kevin Palmer is a big time talent that is one of the premier mid-major players in the country. I'm not going to throw the NBA label on him just yet, but he's going to live a nice life playing basketball professionally. They've also got a solid group of four big men that should be the best in the Southland Conference. I'm expecting the second NCAA tournament appearance in school history.

I really like that trade for the Dallas Mavericks. With Biedrins and Jackson in the mix they would be a lot tougher, maybe even good enough to defeat the Spurs or Nuggets. However, I'm not sure how Golden State can sign off on that considering what it would leave them at center.

Neither of those teams were fully healthy in that game, so to look at it as anything other than a meaningless early regular season game would be a mistake.

Have you watched the other five games they played before that one? They were due; they were absolutely dominant up to that point. Please believe Coach Rambis had his group riled up to go out there and give the Celtics everything they could handle in more. I actually came away impressed with the Celtics in that game because there is going to be nights where you're caught off guard, but they fought back and pulled out the win. That's what's most important.

You just kinda knew they were coming with all the changes that happened in Detroit this offseason. They're going to have to make some moves eventually, but I'd be really hesitant to let go of Prince. There's just not a lot of players in the league with his kind of versatility and defensive abilities. I'd take him on my team any day, but it wouldn't shock me to see Dumars trade him if the right deal comes along simply because I don't think he has a group that fits together well right now.

Not even Manu Ginobili knew he was Manu Ginobili at that time. The Spurs just took a chance on him as a shot in the dark. As Coach Popovich explained to me last week, they see certain aspects in a player that they like with late picks and take them based on that. It's obvious now that the Spurs' have a superior eye for talent compared to just about every other team in the league. Manu and his agent were expecting him to go undrafted. After that point Manu's game really exploded. There's times where you just can't project how a player will develop, especially one like Manu who was such a mystery.

This is going to be it for me folks. Travis Heath will be up next, appreciate everyone checking out today's chat.

Gabe, he's been as advertised as far as I'm concerned. The job he did against Joe Johnson and Kevin Durant was very impressive. He's doing exactly what he needs to do and what the team is expecting of him. He's really worked hard on just fitting in offensively, but I think it's time for him to step his aggressiveness up tonight. We should the Houston Rockets version of Ron Artest offensively tonight with Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol out.