Michael Wilbon: NBA Playoffs and Draft, NHL Playoffs, Rafael Nadal and Baseball

Welcome to The Chat House, where Post columnist Michael Wilbon was online Wednesday, May 27 at 1:15 p.m. ET to take your questions about the NBA playoffs and NBA Draft, the Stanley Cup Finals, the struggling Nationals, baseball, and all the other big news in sports.

A transcript follows

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Silver Spring, Md.: How do you think Eddie Jordan will do with the 76ers

Michael Wilbon: Hi Everybody...Good to be with you on a rare day at home here in Washington, D.C. I'm taking a pit stop at home before leaving tomorrow for Los Angeles for the first two games of the NBA Finals. There is basketball news elsewhere, though, starting with Eddie Jordan, fired by the Washington Wizards in November, getting the gig in Philly, which I think is a great hire by the 76ers. What the 76ers need is someone who can install and coach great offense, to incorporate Elton Brand, who needs some halfcourt touches in the low post, with the rest of the Sixers who love to run-and-gun. Eddie Jordan, to me, seems perfect for this job. Perfect. Congratulations to Eddie, who is simply one of the best people I've ever met in sports, not just in Washington, but anywhere ... I've just become a Sixers fan (after the Bulls, of course) ...

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Rock Hill, S.C.: The White Sox won a close one against Greinke yesterday. Any chance Greinke gets a little more offensive help in Kansas City, because he needs run support more than anything.

Michael Wilbon: Greinke should be the story of the year so far in MLB, and he is. But the Royals have to make a deal to get this guy some help, which is easier said than done when you're a small market team that just doesn't make big splashes...Now, if the Royals have another starter emerge, maybe they can be hitless wonders and make it work to the tune of a wild-card spot in the playoffs. Even that would be impressive ... Nonetheless, watching Greinke is an event right now, and kind of what baseball needs right now to distract from the power-steroid issues.

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Rock Hill, S.C.: Any chance Chicago could handle two NFL franchises now that the Rams are for sale and could be on the move?

Michael Wilbon: No, no, no and no. No city can handle two other than New York. L.A. didn't do all that well with two and there are, what, 25 million people living within a couple of hours of where the Rams and Raiders played? Chicago? No way. It's a Bears town. Where would the Rams play? In some outer suburbs? What stadium would they play in? Soldier Field? Please, no way. That talk should stop instantly.

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Washington, D.C.: Will Andruw Bynum ever get it together or is he simply another case of a young overhyped big man?

Michael Wilbon: Great question...There's real doubt about Andrew Bynum now, even though the Lakers have signed him to a contract extension that hasn't even started yet. He's 7-feet tall with athleticism and grace but it's said by those who know that he's not the hardest worker and it takes him a long time to pick up things. That's not good news. Oh, and he's a bit injury prone it seems, as well. If he's the hope for the Lakers' future you have to wonder right now. You'd like to see a bit more from him. He's gone from averaging 14 and 7 or something like that, to 6 and 4 in the playoffs. It's quite a drop off. Granted he isn't 100 percent after this second inee injury. But you'd like to start seeing more than 20-game stretches soon, especially as Kobe Bryant moves into his 30s.

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Rockville, Md.: Right now, it seems to me that the Nats have about 40 percent of what you need to have a playoff team. They are hitting decently, and they have two or three possibly decent starting pitchers. So, the only things they seem to lack are any relievers at all, and the abilities to catch or throw a baseball. What would you do next to acquire players who can make up the remaining 60 percent?

Michael Wilbon: I'm not going to try and recommend specific solutions for the Nationals, because I don't watch the Nationals. Haven't seen a single game all season because of my NBA work, which kicks into gear at the start of the MLB season. I just want to say this: when a team is bad year after year after year, the top of the pyramid is the problem, not the bottom. Yes, the Nationals need players. But who gets the players? Who charts the course for the franchise so that there are people who make sure the players arrive? Whether we're talking about the Clippers or Cardinals until lately (Young Bidwill, Dennis Green and now Ken Whisenhunt) ... Look to the top..

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Miami, Fla.: Boldin switched agents. What does this mean in regards to where he might end up this season?

washingtonpost.com: NFL NewsFeed: Boldin to Fire Rosenhaus? (Washington Post, May 26)

Michael Wilbon: Hmmm, sounds like he might be signing an extension with the Cardinals ... perhaps? That's a big "L" for Drew Rosenhaus, is it not?

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Anonymous: If you were a baseball GM, would you want the non-Coors Field version of Matt Holliday on your team?

Michael Wilbon: Good question...I don't think so, no.

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Pasadena, Calif.: Do you think Avery Johnson would be a good fit for the Clippers? Is he a "players coach"? I feel the game on the court has passed Dunleavey by and the players, especially Baron Davis and Chris Kamen, tune him out.

Michael Wilbon: Yeah, I do feel Avery would have a much better shot at winning there ... I don't know that he sees that job as a great situation, consider ownership. But if I ran the Clippers I'd try to hire him Coach Johnson. I think with the roster the way it is now, plus Blake Griffin, the Clips could make a run at the 7th or 8th spot in the west.

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Bethesda, Md: Mike,

Any thoughts on your colleague, The Washington Post's Jason La Canfora, making the move from print to television?

washingtonpost.com: Redskins Insider: A Heartfelt Good-bye (The Washington Post, June 1)

Michael Wilbon: Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. I've loved reading Jason's stories on the Redskins over the years and loved working beside him for some of those seasons. And I think the NFL Network is getting a damn good hire who'll work his can off and break stories. I'm sorry to see The Post lose a reporter on the most important beat who is as tenacious and quite willing to take on management ... But I'm happy he's found a larger platform to do NFL reporting. I'm happy for Jason and I look forward to seeing him on-air this fall ...

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Alma, Mich.: Have you noticed that a company called DAP (which makes caulks and weather sealers) is advertising on MLB billboards behind the plate?

I think you and Kornheiser should turn "gimme some DAP" into a corporate sponsorship.

Michael Wilbon: Kornheiser? He gets nothing! I'm the Dap man here ... though I not only knew the product existed about 5 years ago, I actually brought some in the studio for a prop one day ... Seems like it was about five years ago. Now, I've heard the word "Dap" all my life ... it means credit or props ... acknowledgement.

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Washington, D.C.: You see Ron Artest returning to the Rockets? And if so, what about Tracy McGrady? Do the Rockets shop him after all his surgeries or do we try one more year with the trio that could rival the Boston Three Party (in positions and career lengths that is, and if they're all healthy of course ... which won't happen).

Michael Wilbon: I don't know what's going to happen with Artest, but I talked to Tracy McGrady two weeks ago and he told me he expects to be back, and someone close to the Rockets management staff told me as much ... Now, things can change because people make offers that you didn't anticipate would come ... so I'm not going to state categorically that T-Mac will be back. But I think all parties expect him to be back in Houston. Artest is a wild-card in a thousand different ways. Suppose he wants to now go and play with Kobe? What then? Think the Lakers would tell him no? I don't know ...

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Alexandria, Va.: The Redskins claim they've got 100,000 people on their waiting list. Why not a second D.C. franchise?

Michael Wilbon: I don't believe that number, first of all. And are people here going to abandon the Redskins to root for another NFL team? And where would it play? Hell, Washington won't even support a MLB team ... not that that's the same as an NFL team. But these thins are so overstated, what one metropolitan area will support. Are the sponsors going to just bail on a franchise that's been here for 72 years? I doubt it.

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Roseland, N.J.: Ok, Wilbon- it's been about a month since you predicted the Pittsburgh Pirates would finally finish over .500 for the first time since cell phones were invented.

As of today, they're six games under, and you just saw them drop two of three to your Cubbies. I'm giving you a chance to climb down! Are the Pirates doomed as usual, or are you gonna man up and stand by your prediction?

Michael Wilbon: I could care less about standing by that prediction, but it's a long season ... I'll stay with it for now.

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Rock Hill, S.C.: Can we please get a comment about the Barkley/Miller interaction?

washingtonpost.com: YouTube: Charles Barkley calls Reggie Miller Num Nuts

Michael Wilbon: Ooops, sorry I lost you guys for a second. Twice last week, once in Orlando and once in Cleveland, I watched games in the TNT Green Room with Charles and Reggie and Kenny, and I couldn't have had more fun and they couldn't have had more fun, so I think nothing of it. ... You think Tony and I don't call each other that and worst on and off the air? This is what guys do ... they fuss and fight about stupid things (women and sports) and then go and have a beer. This is life...and a good one, I might add ... Until I see something else from the two of them, it means nothing.

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Milwaukee, Wis.: Michael: To many (and, especially, those of us in the middle of the country) the idea that LeBron James would be an even bigger media personality if he played for the Knicks seems beyond absurd. What exactly could he accomplish off the court in New York that he couldn't in Cleveland? Brett Favre managed to become one of the most overexposed athletes in the history of the world even though he played in Punyville, USA. If I'm missing something, please tell me.

Michael Wilbon: You're missing nothing. Nothing. I've been saying this all along.

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Somerville, Mass.: So Ricky Rubio doesn't want to play for Memphis or Oklahoma City ... should the Wizards now actively try to trade up into one of those spots to take a potential franchise-changer? Or are you a fan of the "trade the 5 pick and a couple bad contracts for a veteran" strategy a la Antwan Jamison in 2004?

Michael Wilbon: Depends on who the veteran is ... If I trade up, I've got to get the right draft pick. I love what I've seen of Rubio, but I don't know if Ernie Grunfeld does ... And if you're going to trade up, why not see if the Clippers will bite and give up the No. 1 pick. It is, I remind you, the Clippers.

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Washington, D.C.: Do you see Patrick Ewing being considered for a head coaching job soon, after his good work with Dwight Howard in Orlando?

Michael Wilbon: I don't think so. This year? What's going to be open? I hope Patrick gets a job soon. He's 46, 47 years old. Guys don't usually get their first gig at that age, though Reggie Theus must have been close to that ... actually beyond it ... when he got his first gig ... But Patrick's work with Howard is just great.

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Northeast, Washington, D.C.: Mike,

What do you think about Calvin Borel winning the Triple Calvin (Crown) on two different horses, after he wins the Belmont on Saturday on Mine That Bird. He's a lock for SI sportsman of the year, when we have very few standout athletes this year. Don't you agree?

Michael Wilbon: Well, we're not yet halfway through the year so I don't want to shut off performances from June through December ... but Borel would be the front runner if he wins the Belmont ... yes ... what a great story that would be.

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Arlington, Va.: The Celtics should let Big Baby go and bring in Artest on a one-year mid-level exception. Artest would be Posey deluxe, which is what they needed even more than another big.

Michael Wilbon: No ... Big Baby gives you help in the low post that even Artest doesn't give you ... And he's younger, and cheaper, and less trouble.

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Toronto, Canada: Hi Mr. Wilbon

Just wanted to say I'm a big fan of your show and your columnsas a sports fan. Which playoffs are you finding more exciting this year, the NBA's or NHL's?

Michael Wilbon: I care about the NBA more than I do the NHL, so that's a loaded question for me. But the NHL playoffs have been fabulous. I saw, in person, some of the Rangers-Caps and Pens-Caps series ... And I watched some of the Blackhawks-Red Wings series ... They've both been great, but you're asking someone who makes half his living writing and talking about the NBA. I don't pretend to be unbiased on this issue.

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Washington, D.C.: So how big is Nadal's loss? Is this like Buster Douglas big in terms of upsets?

Michael Wilbon: Yes, Buster Douglas is an apt analogy. Yes, I love that. A tennis upset has to be more sustained. It's not one set, like you can knock a guy out with one flurry, even a guy as tough as Tyson was at the time ... The Nadal upset is huge. Can't wait to get at that on PTI, which I need to do right now, by the way ... Gotta run and prepare for the show ... See you guys next week when we're two games into the NBA Finals, two days after the Belmont ...

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Fairfax, Va.: I didn't see it discussed in last week's chat, so I wanted to send it now: Kudos to you for manning up in your column about the Big Baby fiasco down in Orlando with the kid and the kid's dad.

Just curious, but a lot of your style -- at least here and on PTI -- is an "in your face" acerbic style. Do you see that changing slightly with this recent event and how it was handled on both sides? You admit you went overboard; many think you often do. Does this cause you to perhaps think twice in the future?

washingtonpost.com: Michael Wilbon: After 'Big Baby' Uproar, 'CryDaddy' Gets a Grip (The Washington Post, May 15)

Michael Wilbon: I think more than twice before I write, again while I'm doing it, and again while it's being edited before it's published ... And I'll still approach some issues that way. It's who I am. Though not everything I write is in-your-face. Dude, I got more than one pitch!

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