McInnis, who played the past three seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, will join a backcourt that includes Antonio Daniels and Damon Stoudamire. Terms of the deal were not immediately released.

Darius Miles is an intriguing talent. He's athletic and charismatic with high energy, but the Clippers are gambling big-time that Andre Miller will stay in LA, that Miles won't get any better and there won't be mutiny among the remaining Clippers (Quentin Richardson, Keyon Dooling, Corey Maggette and Lamar Odom all close friends of Miles).

It was refreshing that the other major deal in the last week, the Clippers-Cavaliers trade, primarily was about basketball, although Andre Miller's free agency at the conclusion of the season can't be what Donald T. Sterling wants to think about every morning for the next year.

I believe the Clippers just vaulted past the SuperSonics, Jazz and Timberwolves in the Western Conference. Not only do I believe they will return to the playoffs, I believe they have a chance of winning a first-round series.

A lot can happen between now and next spring — let's not forget that Lamar Odom has a checkered history — but if the Clippers are healthy when the playoffs begin, there's not a team in the West that will want to face them in a five-game series, and that includes the Lakers.

"I think some people will covet the Laker job," he said. "They'll be coming out of the woodwork. They'll mostly be minor league and college announcers. Those guys will do anything to get the job.

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Ralph: People who are in their 50's now have been listening to him since they were 10 years old. People who are in their 30's have been listening to him their entire lives. They don't know life without Chick Hearn. You just felt good. He's a real feel-good kind of guy, and that's a pretty nice thing to leave behind.

"This is the happiest I've been since I married Marge!" he exclaimed on the air, referring to his wife of nearly 64 years. Half a beat later, he was quickly back to business: "Shaq down the middle ... BLOWS THE LAYUP!"

The Clippers have a young and talented team, and now, after shipping Miles off to Northeast Ohio, they just might have the point guard to turn them into contenders.

Agent Bill Strickland said the Blazers' talks with McInnis are "progressing" and that his "fate may be known to all" as early as next week. McInnis, who averaged a career-high 14.6 points and 6.2 assists last season with the Clippers, is familiar to the Blazers' coaching staff.

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That's why I was caught off-guard when Adam Kennedy walked up and asked: "What do you think about the trade?"

What trade? Was there some last-minute deadline deal I missed? He couldn't be talking about the Angels sending Jorge Fabregas to Milwaukee for Alex Ochoa, could he? Was that one even worth analyzing?

Sensing the confusion, he clarified: "The trade the Clippers made."

Oh, that trade. Like it a lot. Andre Miller is one of the top five point guards in the NBA. Kennedy likes it too, although he said: "I hate to see Darius Miles go."

As if paying tribute to Miles, Kennedy made a highlight play in the sixth inning, with his diving stop to rob Bernie Williams of a hit.