MAILBAG Marty Burns will periodically answer questions from SI.com users in his mailbag. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

Regarding your article about Bulls fans who want to see Kobe in Chicago, I feel it is ridiculous that the Bulls would not consider trading Luol Deng in the deal. What are your feelings on that? Do you believe the trade talks are truly over? How can the Bulls not exhaust all resources in order to get Kobe here?
-- Bill, Chicago

I went on record long ago saying I didn't think the Bulls would break up their core for Bryant. But the way Chicago has been playing this season, Bulls GM John Paxson is probably starting to have second thoughts. I wouldn't be surprised if the Kobe trade talks were resurrected at some point. But to me Chicago's real problem is it needs a big man who can score. Paxson might want to look in that direction instead.

There is one trade that may satisfy both Kobe and the Lakers. Memphis has a ton of young talent and could send a package of Mike Miller, Rudy Gay and Mike Conley Jr. (others may have to be included for salary cap purposes). This would give the Lakers a team that may not be able to compete for the West this season, but has a legitimate shot at being a contender in a couple of years with a lineup of Conley, Miller, Gay, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum.

The Grizzlies could still produce a lineup of Damon Stoudamaire/Kyle Lowry, Kobe, Hakim Warrick, Pau Gasol and Darko Milicic, with Juan Carlos Navarro and Stromile Swift coming off the bench. Is there any chance of the Grizzlies pursuing Kobe, and would Kobe be willing to take a deal to a small market?
-- Bill Lund, Eugene, Ore.

The key is Kobe would have to agree to it. Since he has a no-trade clause, he holds all the cards. He's the one who has listed Chicago as one of his destinations. It's not that other teams don't have players the Lakers would want; it's just that the Bulls have the players and they are on Kobe's list. The Grizzlies could certainly put together an attractive package for Kobe. The problem is that Kobe wouldn't agree to play in Memphis.

Should the slow start by Golden State be taken seriously? It seems like they've dug themselves a big hole.
-- Kevin D., Santa Monica, Calif.

It's way too early to count any team out of the playoffs just yet -- especially the Warriors. Last year they were so far out of the playoff picture at one point that even Nelson said he didn't think they could get in. Then they got hot and wound up breaking that long playoff drought. Golden State's problem is it might not be as good as it was last year. In this year's West, even a slight step back is likely to be fatal.

Kevin Martin is presently [fourth] in scoring (25.6 ppg), tied with Tracy McGrady. Is he All-Star material?
-- Ferdie Alayon, Sacramento

If Martin is No. 2 or No. 3 on the scoring charts when the coaches get their ballots in late January, he will have a shot. But with so many great point guards in the West, the coaches will probably only have room for two or three shooting guards. Kobe and McGrady probably will get starting berths, so that leaves maybe one reserve spot among Martin, Allen Iverson, Manu Ginobili and some others. It will be tough for Martin to beat out those guys, especially if Sacramento's record isn't good.

What did you think of the NBA's decision to switch Tim Duncan's All-Star ballot slot from center to forward, just so he can keep up his streak of consecutive All-Star starts?
-- Aodhan Ozawa, Sunnyvale, Calif.

I think somebody at the NBA screwed up. I guess we can add another turkey to this year's list, after all.