There now are two former MVPs in the Eastern Conference. One is Shaquille O’Neal, and he just seems to play part-time anymore. The other is Garnett. You put him with two other All-Star players and no matter who else is on the roster, that team ought to be very successful and a contender in its conference. Now the pressure is on again in Boston. They have the talent to compete. So let’s see if they do.

Q: How bad are the financial problems of Suns owner Robert Sarver? Being as close as they are to winning a title, they unload Kurt Thomas’ salary and have to add two No. 1s to get Seattle to take him. Doesn’t it appear his money issues are bigger than his desire to win a championship?
— Larry Simon, Scottsdale, Ariz.
A: I think he has a lot of money, but fans need to understand that sports is also a business. You get into sports for the fun and excitement and notoriety. But it’s also unfair to ask someone to lose millions of dollars annually just to fulfill the fantasies and dreams of local fans. Good owners try to basically break even, which, I think, Sarver does. It’s a lot to ask someone to lose $20 million so you can stick your finger in the air and yell, “We’re No. 1.” You run your household on some sort of budget. Why shouldn’t he run his business that way? The NBA has a penal luxury tax, and the Suns made some changes to avoid paying it or not much of it. Basically with an $80 million payroll, you would be penalized another $15 million and then not share in the payments to teams under the luxury tax. So basically, to keep someone like Thomas, it could have cost $25 million. Is he worth that? Plus, I don’t see that the Suns need him much and I believe they are well positioned to contend as they are. My sense is Sarver wants to win more than most fans.

Q: Do you think Allen Iverson takes away from ’Melo’s game ? He is a shoot first player.
— Devin Mitchell, Denver
A: I think he does. I’ll give them another season since Iverson came in midseason and they didn’t have enough chance to work together. But the way they played last season, it seemed they were taking turns scoring rather than providing opportunities for one another. They are both scorers and it’s difficult to see there who is going to sacrifice.

Q: Do you think the Bobcats will be good this season? They got Jason Richardson but that’s really about it.
— Shane Williams, Salem, Ore.
A: I know there was some criticism on draft day about the deal, but I like the acquisition of Richardson and think the Bobcats will improve. I don’t know yet about Sam Vincent and whether he’s a strong enough personality and can rally that team on defense. It hasn’t particularly been a well-coached group and tended to blow lots of late leads. They had too many young players, and while Richardson isn’t the slasher he was before knee surgery, he can make a shot and can provide some leadership for the kids. Now if someone can get Ray Felton to stop dribbling between his legs so much.

Q: Who decides who will be the commissioner of the NBA? Is there a set term? How come David Stern has been a commissioner for more than 20 years?
— Edward Cary, San Mateo, Calif.
A: As in all sports, the owners pick the commissioner. There is a term, but Stern has been renewed several times. Now, Stern goes year to year without a long-term contract, even though they have been offered. He has an eight-figure annual salary and said he wants to be renewed every year and intends to work for several more years. There have been no efforts to seek a replacement. The reason is he’s done a good job. The NBA prospered greatly under Stern’s watch and owners who came in when Stern became commissioner almost 25 years ago have seen their investments multiply 20 and 30 times. So why replace him? Stern isn’t quite on as solid footing now with so many owners buying in at higher prices in recent years and not having their equity increase like their predecessors. Stern seems now intent on staying in the job for several more years, which he is likely to do as the league recently signed another lucrative TV contract. Plus, there appears to be no good successors in line, certainly not in the NBA office since Russ Granik left. But should an owner like Mark Cuban get more allies, Stern could find many more contract renewals difficult. For now, he’s safe.

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