Do you think that it's possible that the Bulls should bring back Antonio Davis because he is someone that the Bulls have been missing. If they would have kept him do you think they would have beat the Heat to advance to the second round? --Donte, Waukegan, Ill.

They might, though I'm not a big fan of the idea. To be a leader you have to play and I no longer see Davis with age and injuries to be someone who can play much and contribute a great deal. I think that leader in the locker room thing is overrated. If you don't play, guys don't take you seriously. I think it's possible the Bulls bring him back for a minimum for the end of the bench or reserved list or a spot player to eventually move onto the staff. I think the Bulls need a big man coach of some sort and I think Davis would be good at that. With Johnny Bach retiring that could be a good fit as Davis is one of the class professionals of the game.

Sam, please quit with the trade scenarios. Watching this young group play together has gotten me interested in the NBA again. Wouldn't it be best to just let the kids play, and watch them develop into one of the league's best TEAMS? --Adam, Omaha, Neb.

As I said in my lead, I'm not as convinced this is a championship team in the making. They're small at virtually every position and do not have a true shooting guard, power forward or center. What exactly are they keeping together? And what would I do all winter? Watch regular season NBA games? The playoffs are fabulous. But New Orleans in January? C'mon. Plus, what if I get one right? Maybe I can get a job with a team and won't have to answer all these letters. And then I could complain about wannabe general managers.

Hey, Sam, with his size, defense, rebounding and generally improved attitude over the past two years, do you think Bonzi Wells would be a good FA pickup for the Bulls? Odds are they'll land their 4 through the draft, and I don't see a 2 guard out there better than Wells. Any thoughts on whether or not he could mesh with this club with his newfound professional demeanor? Thanks. --Dan, Chicago

Actually, I've always had nice, pleasant talks with Bonzi, and can say I have never talked to any other Bonzis. However, Wells this season reminds me of the guy with a parole hearing coming up. Now he's such a good guy playing hard? If Wells could play the way he has the last part of the season and playoffs, I would be interested. He's strong, tough and can make a shot, though is more the slasher. He's a heck of a mismatch with his strength. But guys don't just get religion like that in the NBA often. And you don't invest when the commodity is at its high point. In addition to not being the Bulls kind of guy -- OK, our kind of people, as former general manager Jerry Krause used to say -- it's too risky to invest in a guy who wakes up in his contract season.

With all the big name players targeted by the Bulls more than likely no longer on the horizon--Wallace, Garnett, Iverson, O'Neal--would the Grizzlies trade Pau Gasol? He fits into the PF role we need and your recent column would suggest that after three years of one-and-done in the playoffs this club might be looking to move in another direction. --Brian Henkels, Plantation, Fla.

I'd doubt it. What else do they have? I thought at one time the Grizzlies would parlay Gasol into a big deal for a center and something to shake up the team. But he's become their core now around a group of role players and I see him less available than some of the others you mention. I think O'Neal is traded and, while I think Garnett probably will stay, I wouldn't put it past the franchise to entertain offers and perhaps take something if they can't add a good player to go with Garnett.

Hey, Sam, I hear this year's free agents class is slim at best. And while the Bulls are said to be in the market for a big man, I also hear a lot about Al Harrington. It seems to me that we already have two Harringtons, and I am not even talking about Othella. Deng and Noch play the same game and may even have more range than Al. Harrington may play better in the paint, but he can't play D any better than Noch. I just think with the Bulls already set at the SF, why go get another undersized PF? --Michael DesEnfants, Chicago

I agree. I'm not high on Harrington and don't see him as a player who gets you better. I think he ends up in New York as Thomas knows him from his time in Indiana. I also don't see Harrington fitting in with the style the Bulls play, though he thinks he can.

I'm originally from Chicago, and have followed the Bulls almost since they became the Bulls. With the way Skiles likes his teams to play defense, I think that Sheldon Williams from Duke would be a great fit for this team. He plays incredibly hard with a chip on his shoulder, but more importantly, he plays smart. I like the LSU kid, but we need someone that can be a force in the middle. --Errol, Washington D.C.

I'm not sure Williams is a force, but if the Bulls don't make any major trades, I can see them going for Williams with their second first-rounder. I think they end up loading up on big guys. I don't see Williams as highly skilled, but, yes, he seems like a worker and a guy who can fit and will play in the NBA for a long time.

You talk so much about how the T-Wolves need to trade KG or they're not going anywhere and how Minnesotans are content with a non-playoff team. We've only been out of the playoffs for two years out of the past decade. KG is a once-in-a-lifetime player. And I'm not just speaking of what he does on the court. If the Bulls were to acquire KG in "fantasyland" after the players they'd have to give up, they'd be about 10 times worse than the Wolves. You're just jealous cuz you don't have him and you know you'll never get him. But I guarantee you this if you did have him you would never trade him. --Dug, Des Moines, Iowa

I get a lot of emails like this and don't get it. Missing the playoffs two straight seasons in the NBA is terrible. Plus, there are teams in the West that didn't make the playoffs that are better than Minnesota, like Houston. You have no chance as a franchise if you waste your best asset, and playing Garnett until he drops gets the Timberwolves nowhere. That said, I believe they don't agree with me and will keep Garnett. The talk is they'll trade for Stephon Marbury to give Garnett a finisher as Garnett never has been a good fourth-quarter player. But where does that team go?

The Bulls should not try to get Kevin Garnett, especially for their young talent. Garnett is already old according to NBA standards. He's 30 already and look at Shaq at 34 is already sort of washed up. Even though Garnett is in better shape, I still think he is gonna start doing less and less and if they traded for Garnett they wouldn't have anyone left so they would probably become just like the Timberwolves of the East. --Jorge, Naperville, Ill.

Yes, not everyone here wants Garnett. After all, he doesn't make the playoffs much and when he does rarely goes anywhere. So how good can he be? Yeah! We told those Garnett guys! I'd still take a chance on Garnett even more so than on O'Neal. But you have hit the right issue. If the Bulls had to give up too much, Garnett wouldn't want to come to Chicago and I don't believe Minnesota would send him to somewhere he doesn't want to go. L.A. has always supposedly been the destination and you wonder if the Clippers go out in this round, would they put together a package as they have some good assets.

Hey, Mr. Smith, I love reading your articles even though for the most part they are nonsensical. The Bulls need a big athletic two guard, and a guy that I would love them to get is Gerald Wallace. Do you think a package of Gordon and our second first-rounder would be enough to get him? I think him and Artest are the only two people who can possibly guard LeBron and I'd like to have him for the next 8-10 years. --Robin, Hinsdale, Ill.

Thanks. I'm thinking of putting your first comment on my business card. I like Wallace too, and with better coaching, like Skiles, I think he could become terrific because he tends to lose concentration. But the Bobcats are sending him as their representative to the lottery, so I doubt they'd give him up very easily. It probably would be too costly for the Bulls, though they need that kind of two guard.

Hi, Sam, everyone is talking about the big free agent acquisitions, and high draft picks for the Bulls in the upcoming offseason; I am interested in hearing from you what will Bulls do with role players like Harrington, Piatkowski and Pargo. Also, if they don't bring those guys back, they will need some veteran leadership, and whom do you think would be a good fit? We lost Adrian Griffin, and he was starting for Dallas during the year. By the way, I was at Harry Carays the other day, and they, of course, had the Ryno beer, but they also had Sam Smith Oatmeal beer. And yeah, one more question, do people ever mistake you for Stephen A. Smith? --Mirza Mahic, River Forest, Ill.

I believe those three will be gone. With two No. 1 picks and free agent money, I can see the Bulls adding a half dozen new players and I believe they'll go for veterans in free agency. I think there'll be enough. They took a risk with Griffin to keep a roster spot open in case they could make a deal and nothing came of it. But you have to protect yourself. It's actually Samuel Smith beer from England, and the British would be the only ones to think of putting oatmeal in beer. As for Stephen A., it's a tough time for me. I used to be the most famous S. Smith.