Executive of the Year:

Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics — Just how the heck did he pull it off?

Q: I’ve heard rumblings that there are chemistry problems and other issues in Phoenix. This seems a bit silly for such a talented team. Do you think this is a make-or-break season for this club? Win a title or break up the rosters?
— Allison, Scottsdale, Ariz.
A: To an extent, yes. Not that it should be, but after three close calls, I think they are of the belief that you can only ride the same horse for so long. It’s not to say they’ll blow up the team as Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire aren’t going anywhere. But Shawn Marion talked about a trade and has long privately talked about being left out as the third option. Plus, next season is the final one on his contract and I see him like Ben Wallace and Detroit with someone else paying him for his best years somewhere else. I think the Marion thing is all about an extension, and I don’t see the Suns giving him one. The Pistons proved right to punt on Wallace, and I see the Suns doing the same with Marion. So there’ll be some changes if they don’t win, but it’s too good a group and system to give up on until they strain every ounce out of Nash.

Q: Do you think the Washington Wizards will make it to the playoffs?
— Yasir Yosef Yahya, Philippines
A: Yes. I didn’t think they would going into the season because Gilbert Arenas was getting too involved off the court and was becoming a distraction to the team and playing selfishly to keep making himself a star. But when Arenas went out with an injury, and the Wizards have shared the ball better and played better defense, weaknesses in Arenas’  show. Arenas says he’ll return after the All-Star break, so we’ll see how that goes. I think he’ll have to take somewhat of a back seat, though I don’t know if he’s capable. If I were the Wizards I’d look to trade him for a big man like Elton Brand, who also can opt out of his contract.

Q: Will the Warriors sign Chris Webber?
— Kunlathep Chucnjit
A: I guess that’s done already, though the big question is why. There perhaps wasn’t a worse relationship in the NBA in the last 20 years than Webber and Don Nelson. That’s one thing, though we know things change fast in the NBA. The Bulls hated Dennis Rodman until he helped them win three titles. Nelson says the team cannot make the playoffs without more size, meaning Webber. I disagree. The Warriors play a wonderfully open game, which doesn’t suit Webber at all. Webber said he’ll take a backseat role, but he said the same thing in Detroit and proved difficult, even getting into major verbal confrontations with the coaching staff in the playoffs. Webber was a great talent, but his knees are in awful shape. The Warriors don’t worry about defense, so that may not be an issue as Webber is almost immobile. I just don’t see how he can keep up with their game and don’t see his passing in the half court meaning all that much. More worrisome to me would be rumors Baron Davis is having some physical problems. I’d be trying to address the backup point guard situation to give Davis the rest he’s not getting.

Q: Is it time for a shakeup in New Jersey? Seems like the Nets should be better with their big-name stars.
— Vincent, Secaucus, N.J.
A: It’s on the way. Jason Kidd already has asked out without apologies and the Nets will have to take the best deal. Like Minnesota with Kevin Garnett, they waited a year too long when the offers for Kidd were better. They are one of the great disappointments this season. It seems Vince Carter has regressed, though they have been hurt badly by Nenad Krstic not making it back this season when expected. I’ve felt they should have been making these moves before as they’re a lame duck franchise headed to Brooklyn in 2010. The owner, to his credit, didn’t want to give up and cheat the fans, though it seems time now to make those plans thinking about the move and not the swamp anymore.

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